The Gardiner Foundation
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Our Story
"How one family's tragedy became a foundation built on grief, memory, and giving back — one community, one family, one child at a time."
By Dexter Gardiner
Founder, The Gardiner Foundation
In 2006, I lost six members of my family in a single car accident on the Bronx River Parkway in the Bronx, New York. That same year, tragedy struck again — my mother and youngest sister also passed away, bringing the total to eight family members lost within a single year.
"From that pain and suffering, the communion of families and communities was born."
The Gardiner Foundation, Inc. was formed in my family's honor and memoriam — to help other families who have been struck by tragedy manage the grief and bereavement process, by giving them the support system and tools to move forward.
Since the foundation's founding, other families have suffered car accidents and lost loved ones on the Bronx River Parkway. Looking to prevent future tragedies, I've pushed for increased safety measures on the highway — and the Department of Transportation has since raised the barriers in each lane of the parkway because of it. If you're ever riding the Bronx River Parkway and see the barriers raised, that's because we refused to stay silent.
Our motto: "We Are Our Brother's Keeper."
Our community-building initiatives are meant to help as many people as possible, but we can only do so by taking it one kid, one person, one family at a time.
What We Do
While recognizing the needs of other families in the community who have also suffered a sudden and tragic loss, the Gardiner Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3), embarked on an outreach initiative offering a variety of support — from burial assistance and spiritual mentoring to computers, school supplies, and college scholarships.
Our Mission
Our purpose is to build and lift up communities and families through sports, recreation, and educational empowerment — providing support, guidance and mentoring to youth and families in lower-income neighborhoods.
The Gardiner Foundation is a 501(c)(3)
How It Started
In 2006, our founder, Dexter Gardiner, lost six family members in a single car accident on the Bronx River Parkway. His mother and youngest sister also died that year. From that pain, the Gardiner Foundation was formed in his family's honor — to help other families struck by tragedy manage grief and move forward.
What We Do
Recognizing that other families face sudden, tragic loss too, the Gardiner Foundation, a 501(c)(3), offers a range of support — from burial assistance and spiritual guidance to computers, school supplies, and college scholarships.
How We Give Back
Memorial & Bereavement Assistance
One year after its founding, the Gardiner Foundation started raising funds for interment services to benefit those who lack sufficient funds for a memorial service and burial. The first beneficiary was a single mother who lost five of her children in a car accident who also received professional counseling services during and after the crisis.
Year-Round Basketball Tournaments
Extending far beyond the basketball court, our recreational trips are a basis for pre-teen and teenage youth to learn and build the key life skills and importance of relationship-building, sportsmanship, academics and community service.
Gardiner Foundation Scholarships
Since 2009, The Gardiner Foundation has provided $1,500 scholarship to each student entering their first year in college or preparatory school who have earned the honor after having written an essay and received a recommendation from a Guidance Counselor, Dean or Principal.
Peer Mentoring Programs
"Tru Talk" is a peer mentorship program for youth and young adults to discuss the peer pressures of life and is an extension of the Gardiner Foundation motto, “We Are Our Brother’s Keeper.”
Additional Services
With Support From Our Premier Sponsor
