The Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation has announced a new philanthropic fund at Willow Brook Elementary School, created by longtime Oak Ridge residents James and Patricia Wilson to support teachers and students for years to come. The gift holds special meaning for Patricia Wilson, who taught first grade at Willow Brook from 1966 to 1979, and a connection revisited during a recent school tour, where students and staff welcomed the couple with handwritten thank-you notes and posters. “It was incredibly meaningful to return and see the same spirit of learning, care, and community still thriving today,” she said.
The Wilsons have a long history of supporting education in Oak Ridge, including several post-secondary scholarships and James Wilson’s service on the Roane State Community College Foundation Board. With this new fund, they hope to inspire others to invest in local public schools. “We’re calling on others to join us in this effort,” James Wilson said. “Our children are our future.” Watch the video to see the full presentation at the Board of Education meeting on Monday, August 24, 2026.
