A community activist who was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting in Parramore last month is being honored with a memorial scholarship fund.

  • Gino Nicolas, a mentor in Parramore, gunned down in a drive-by last month
  • Kiwanis Club of Orlando Foundation created the Gino Nicolas Memorial Scholarship Fund
  • Police still have no leads in Nicolas' murder

The Kiwanis Club of Orlando Foundation has donated $100,000 to start the Gino Nicolas Memorial Scholarship Fund, so Gino’s legacy in Parramore lives on. 

Gino Nicolas, 24, was mentoring youth when he was gunned down last month. No arrests in his case have been made yet.

"He was making a difference and when somebody is making a difference in the community like that, those types of things shouldn’t happen to those types of people," said Gino's sister Naomie Monroe. 

Monroe believes the scholarship fund will do what Gino always wanted to, show young people from Parramore a way out. 

“Amazing that you have such wonderful supporters that are interested in moving forward with what Gino stood for," Monroe said.

“Gino is an individual who felt like if he made it in the community, that his duty was to go back and show others how to, what steps to take and provide them with different opportunities that he wasn’t aware of. He wanted to be that guidance," Monroe added.

Nicolas’ family members are glad the scholarship will help young people from Parramore go to college. 

“He stood for making a difference. He stood for bringing young black males or just minorities, period, into showing them that there is a way out," Monroe said.

Ten years ago, the Kiwanis Club of Orlando Foundation donated $100,000 to help get the Parramore Kidz Zone started.  

Now, they’re stepping up again.

“He was a man who grew up in Parramore. He knew the challenges of living in this community. He went away, got his college degree and came back to do the right thing to help other kids, other youth in the community," said Kiwanis Club of Orlando Foundation President Tom Porter.

"We wanted to memorialize his efforts. A man that was doing the right thing and also provide hope to other kids who are interested in continuing their education," Porter explained. 

Porter said the fund will begin by awarding one or two scholarships worth a total of about $4,000 a year, by using approximately four percent of the memorial fund's total balance. 

“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much,” said Lisa Early, Orlando's director of Families Parks and Recreation. 

Orlando Police said they don’t have any updates on the drive-by shooting that killed Nicholas and 46-year-old Tanya Skeen.

“I’m very frustrated. I will say that I do forgive but it hurts that my brother’s not being put to justice, as well as the young woman who was shot and killed as well," Monroe explained.

However, family members aren’t giving up. 

“It can be anonymous, just help us a little bit more," Monroe said.

If you know who killed Gino Nicholas, call CRIMELINE anonymously at 1-800-423-TIPS(8477).