In 2016, Grammy Award Winning Artist Usher founded the Nancy Lackey Community Education Fund in partnership with the State Farm Neighborhood Session television documentary series and concert held at his alma mater, Dalewood Middle School. The fund is a tribute to his beloved "Nanny," who encouraged and supported his dreams to pursue a music career.

To date, nearly $1 million has directly impacted more than 20,000 students across Hamilton County. The fund provides local support as well as national resources for the cultivation of robust experiences in the arts in area schools both during and after school. In addition, it supports non-profit internships for regional college students, student performing arts development scholarships and youth fine arts related educational programming through partnerships with Chattanooga based non-profit organizations.