Zekaria Arena Naming Approved After Major Donation

The Board voted 5-0 on July 28 to approve the agreement among donors Ike and Leon Zekaria, the Beverly Hills Athletic Alumni Association and BHUSD. The arena is scheduled to open in January 2027 as part of the high school's new athletic facilities.

Board President Judith Manouchehri thanked BHAAA, Fenton, the organization's board and the Zekaria family for supporting the district and establishing a connection that will be visible to future generations of Beverly High students.

"Thank you to BHAAA, Mr. Steven Fenton and the rest of their board, and the Zekaria family for remembering BHUSD, believing in us and wanting to connect their name with us, bringing a sense of legacy and pride to BHUSD," Manouchehri said. "It is very exciting that these facilities are going to be finished in short order, and to open them with these namings in place makes it so much more exciting."

Under the agreement, Ike and Leon Zekaria will contribute $165,000 to BHAAA in five installments. The first payment of $45,000 is due Sept. 1, 2026, followed by four annual payments of $30,000 through Sept. 1, 2030.

The Zekaria Arena name will remain in place for 15 years. The term will begin when construction is completed or when the name is installed and publicly implemented, whichever occurs later.

Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss described the agreement as an important step in reconnecting Beverly High alumni with the district as BHUSD prepares to open several new facilities.

"I could not be more excited to bring this agreement to the Board," Cherniss said. "A huge thank you to BHAAA, to their president, Steven Fenton, and to the Zekaria family for getting us to the point where we are now entering an agreement to name the arena after the Zekaria family for a very generous donation of $165,000 over 15 years."

Cherniss said the arena is part of a broader transformation of Beverly High's athletic facilities, including the new Konheim Athletic Building and planned work involving the swimming pool, football field and baseball field.

"With all of these exciting new projects coming on board for our kids, there is tremendous opportunity to reengage our alumni and our community, and this is the first step in that reengagement," Cherniss said.

The pledge reflects the Zekaria family's longstanding relationship with Beverly Hills High School. All five children in the family attended BHHS and participated in programs that included student government, theater and athletics.

The family's connection to Beverly Hills schools began in 1967, when Maurice and Alice Zekaria moved from a two-bedroom home in Burbank to Beverly Hills. They had four children at the time and made the move so their children could attend Beverly Hills schools. A fifth child later joined the family and attended BHHS as well.

"Beverly Hills High School has played an important role in our family for generations," Ike and Leon Zekaria said in a joint statement. "All five children in our family attended BHHS, where we participated in student government, theater, athletics and other programs that helped shape our lives. For Ike, the Swim Gym became a special place where he formed friendships that continue today."

The brothers said their parents' decision to move the family to Beverly Hills created educational and extracurricular opportunities that ultimately benefited all five children.

"Our parents, Maurice and Alice Zekaria, moved the family from Burbank to Beverly Hills in 1967 because they wanted their children to attend Beverly Hills schools," they said. "At the time, they had four children, and their decision created opportunities that ultimately benefited all five of us."

The family initially had reservations about placing its name on the arena but came to view the naming as a tribute to Maurice and Alice Zekaria and an opportunity to support future Beverly High students.

"We were initially unsure about placing our family name on the arena," Ike and Leon said. "We ultimately viewed it as a way to recognize our parents and support the school community that gave our family so much. BHHS invested in us through education, activities, friendships and a strong sense of community. We are grateful to join BHUSD and BHAAA in supporting the students who will use this facility for many years to come."

BHAAA is a nonprofit organization that provides private financial support for BHUSD athletics, educational programming and student opportunities. The organization will receive the Zekarias' payments and administer the funds in support of its charitable mission.

Fenton, a former BHUSD Board of Education member, founded BHAAA and has led its efforts to reconnect Beverly High alumni with the district and generate private support for athletic programs and facilities.

Board Member Russell Stuart credited Fenton with taking the initiative to pursue alumni support and helping move the naming agreement forward. Stuart noted that Fenton and his family have maintained a longstanding connection to BHUSD, including service by Fenton and his father on the Board of Education.

"To still care about our school district, our facilities and our kids, to want them to have the best, I just cannot thank him enough for the amount of effort he has put in," Stuart said.

Stuart said Fenton initiated the effort, worked on the agreements and helped develop the proposed donation amounts. He also expressed hope that the agreement would lead to additional partnerships with Beverly High alumni.

"Thank you, Steven, for everything that you've ever done for us, that you continue to do for us, and this naming rights thing I truly believe is just going to be the beginning," Stuart said. "I think that it's such a beautiful partnership that we have with BHUSD and the AAA."

BHAAA will work with the Zekaria family on proposed signage for the arena. The district retains final approval over the name's placement, size, design, materials, content and installation.

BHAAA will pay for the approved signage, with the cost limited to $15,000 unless the parties agree to a different amount and receive district approval.

The agreement makes clear that the naming is not perpetual. Any extension of the 15-year term or additional recognition connected to a future donation would require a separate written agreement and formal approval from the Board of Education.

The district also retains authority over the facility, its programs and its operations. The naming remains subject to applicable law, district policies and the agreement between BHUSD and BHAAA governing facility naming and donor recognition.

If the arena cannot receive the Zekaria name within 12 months of the agreement's effective date, BHAAA and the district may identify a reasonably comparable location. Any substitute location would require Board approval, and the donors would have 14 days to accept or reject it.

The agreement allows the district and BHAAA to suspend or terminate the naming if required payments are not made or other material terms are violated. It also includes a morality provision allowing the Board to remove the name if it determines that conduct associated with the donors compromises public trust in BHUSD or BHAAA.

A dedication ceremony may be held after the arena is completed. Under the agreement, the Zekaria family, BHAAA leadership, Board members and district officials would receive advance notice of the event.