Answering the Call to Action
Five years ago, Oyate Group was founded on the simple yet urgent belief that when communities are equipped with the tools, resources and opportunities they deserve, they lead the way in building a better future for themselves and those around them.
That is why, when the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the gaps in services and resources within our communities, particularly in the Bronx, Oyate Group was among the first to act.
The Bronx had the highest death and hospitalization rates in New York City, with Black, Latino and senior residents being the most impacted. Small businesses in the borough faced economic hardships, which forced many to close. The Bronx was ultimately not equipped with sustainable structures to withstand the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oyate Group intervened with the launch of one of its first programs, the Bronx Rising Initiative (BRI). Through BRI, Oyate Group:
Increased ICU bed capacity in the Bronx by 120% and provided PPE to local hospitals
Vaccinated over 40,000 Bronx residents deemed “unreachable” by the city through door-to-door outreach, pop-up vaccine sites for NYCHA residents and educational tools to tackle vaccine hesitancy
Distributed over $200,000 in grant funding to Bronx-based small businesses in the form of direct payments
Established the Brandon Hendricks Scholarship program to ensure Bronx college-bound students received the financial assistance they needed to attend college
