Our story

Empowering Youth Through Scholarship, 

Education and Mentorship
 

Hope is Born...
 
Brandon Jackson, a young man who inspired many of his classmates to personal and academic 

excellence, was gunned down in the streets of Altadena on February 12, 2011 
At Brandon's funeral there was a groundswell of commitment among his classmates and other 

community members to stop the cascading effects of violence in our community.  

The Brandon Jackson Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to empower, encourage 

and equip students to make good choices and provide opportunities to achieve their goals for higher education.
 

3 main goals: 

Increase Access to Education 

Remove financial and systemic barriers by providing scholarships and academic 

resources that enable students, especially those from underserved communities-to 

pursue and complete postsecondary education. 

Support Student Success Through Mentorship 

Empower students with guidance, role models, and professional networks 

through structured mentorship programs that build confidence, 

academic persistence, and career readiness. 

Foster Long-Term Educational and Career Outcomes 

Equip students with skills, experiences, and opportunities beyond the 

classroom-such as workshops, internships, and leadership 

development-to help them graduate, transition into careers, 

and give back to their communities. 

Our Beginning 

The 1st Annual Brandon Jackson Scholarship Basketball Event was held in 

August, 2011 with the support of members of the Pasadena and Altadena community 

who chose to respond to this tragic event with hope and not despair. To date the 

Brandon Jackson Memorial Scholarship Fund has: 

•Awarded approximately $177,000 in academic scholarships since 2011 to 

help meet the financial needs of 93 students from the Pasadena- Altadena community. 

•Rallied a community to create a network of resources to support and encourage young people. 

•Along with the Clergy Community Coalition established a partnership with 

area churches to empower the community, through Christ, to unite in a common work.

•Provided a vision for reducing violence and creating a culture which provides 

young people additional opportunities for teamwork and unity.