UPDATE Applications Open for Fourth Annual Brandon Hendricks Scholarship

NORWOOD NEWS

The Oyate Group’s Brandon Hendricks Scholarship is making a significant impact in the Bronx community by providing educational opportunities for graduating seniors and combating the cycle of poverty and gun violence. Named in honor of Brandon Hendricks, a talented young basketball player whose life was tragically cut short in a crossfire incident, this scholarship aims to create a pathway for students to pursue their educational and professional dreams. In a remarkable development, the organization has increased the scholarship award to $20,000 for each of the two selected recipients, a substantial increase from the previous amount of $5,000. This move reflects the growing importance of empowering young individuals and addressing the pressing issues of gun violence and poverty. Through initiatives like the Brandon Hendricks Scholarship and the Beyond Rising Internship program for undocumented youth, the Oyate Group is actively working to break the cycle of violence and provide opportunities for a brighter future. Alongside dedicated activists like Eve Hendricks, Brandon’s mother, who tirelessly advocate for an end to gun violence, local programs such as Bronx Rises Against Gun Violence (B.R.A.G.) and the Stand Up to Violence (SUV) program at Jacobi Medical Center are also making strides in creating safer communities. Moreover, recent events, such as a successful gun buyback event in Wakefield, where 70 guns were turned in, demonstrate the community’s collective efforts to address the issue. Together, these initiatives and individuals are making a resolute stand against gun violence and working towards a better future for the Bronx.