Kaleb’s kickball extravaganza honors late son and his father

SEAFORD, Del. – One families loss of a child and then his father a year after, has ignited their push to do more for the community.

We’re told Kaleb Banks was a still born, and his parents say they were devastated. Then, this past year Kaleb’s father was tragically shot and killed. Kaleb’s family tells us, Jeff had already been working on a kickball event to honor his late son before he died.

Fast forward to Saturday, the kickball tournament raised funds to take care of one student from Seaford middle school for a whole year. Whether that be with school supplies, a hair cut, field trips, anything just to give back. Something his family says, Jeff would have wanted. Jeff’s mother Lois tells 47 ABC, “I’m just excited to see everybody out to see all the love and support.”

“I’m grateful for everybody here our family and friends this is literally our village through everything we’ve been through in the past two years,” says Kaleb’s mother, Katonya Banks.  Kaleb’s Mimi and Katonya’s mom, Jean Banks adds, “There are people that are miles away that were unable to come but they still hit the cash-app so we are grateful for everybody and everything.”

Chandra, Kaleb’s godmother and grandmother tells us, “We also want people to take up the mantle and be that who Jeff was for a lot of kids in this community find somebody to be that person for.” She adds, “Really it’s a message to all the kids, live your life in a way that you want to be remembered in a positive light.”

We’re also told, the tournament also allowed community members to come by and drop off toys for “Toys for Tots”.

Kaleb’s mother and family tells us, they hope to make this a tradition moving forward and they continue working with youth in the community.