Cosby appears for benefit in honor of late son

Saturday, Sept. 6, 1997 | 9:21 a.m.

The entertainer addressed a crowd of nearly 200 people who showed up Friday night at Harrah's Reno for dessert and champagne.

"This is very special, this scholarship for Ennis," he said. "You never know where your friends are going to come from."

UNR established the scholarship for special education students following Ennis Cosby's shooting death Jan. 16 on a Los Angeles freeway. He was pursuing a doctorate in special education at Columbia University at the time.

The elder Cosby said his son was truly dedicated to educating children with disabilities, himself attending a school to overcome dyslexia.

"He came running out of there knowing he could be a person who could make a change," Cosby said. "The university is very powerful in my mind. Your giving and your caring is going to make a change."

The scholarship was created by the UNR Foundation and the Alumni Council, which each contributed $5,000 to the fund. Contributions are being sought to increase the endowment.

Later Friday night at Harrah's, Cosby performed before about 900 people at a benefit dinner for the UNR Foundation, which works to support school projects. The benefit raised more than $100,000.

Cosby is a regular performer in the Reno-Tahoe area and a contributor to UNR. He has taken part in two major fund-raising events for the UNR Athletic Department.

"He's been a great friend to the university," UNR president Joe Crowley said. "This is a way for us to say thanks. The turnout has been tremendous."