ABOUT US

OUR MISSION

The Angellyh Yambo Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to raise awareness in the community against the numerous acts of gun violence in The Bronx, New York, and across the nation.

The Angellyh Yambo Foundation is committed to the community and other nonprofit organizations that assist victims of gun violence with the goal of educating the public through awareness, youth programs/education, and prevention strategies in hopes of saving another innocent child from death by gun violence.

VALUE Statement

At the Angellyh Yambo Foundation, we believe that youth are the future of our communities. We work to inspire and empower youth through targeted programs that help improve their lives and make them feel safe in their communities. We work to prevent gun violence through advocacy and support.

ABOUT THE ANGELLYH YAMBO FOUNDATION

As a family, we are devastated by the tragic and senseless loss of our beloved Angellyh Yambo. On April 8, 2022, Angellyh, a promising honor student, was shot and killed while walking home from school, the University Prep Charter High School in the Melrose section of The Bronx. She had walked only 1,597 feet from her school when a stray bullet, fired by a 17-year-old wielding an untraceable “ghost gun”, struck her in the chest. Her killer was allegedly aiming at a rival gang member across the street.

Angellyh’s sudden death left us in a state of profound shock and disbelief. She had just celebrated her Sweet Sixteen with family and friends, brimming with dreams of becoming a cosmetologist, entrepreneur, and medical school student in The Bronx.

All those aspirations were diminished by a bullet fired from a ghost gun. Through our immense grief, we are honoring Angellyh’s memory by working to ensure that all young people in our community have the opportunity to pursue their education, develop new skills, and embark on meaningful careers. We aim to provide scholarship awards for disadvantaged students and implement program strategies that engage and support youth in vulnerable populations.

Driven by grief over the tragic loss of Angellyth Yambo, the Angellyth Yambo Foundation is spearheading efforts to address gun violence in The Bronx and beyond. Through targeted community education programs, the foundation is dedicated to preventing gun violence and protecting all Americans, especially children, from its devastating impacts. Honoring Angellyth’s legacy, the foundation implores the public to join its mission of safeguarding future generations from this critical public health crisis.

The undeniable link between gun violence and poverty in The Bronx demands urgent action. Our fight for justice is only just beginning, as the foundation remains committed to enacting meaningful change in the community and helping put an end to gun violence.

YOUR DONATIONS WILL HELP OUR PROGRAMS

"Doing good in The Bronx" is all about bringing people together to positively impact their community.

DONATE NOW

Our Leaders

Mary Hernandez

CEO, and Founder

CEO and Founder of the Angellyh Yambo Foundation is a dedicated daughter, sister, aunt, and friend who has taken on one of the biggest challenges of her life. After the tragic murder of her niece Angellyh Yambo, Mary began a foundation to commemorate her niece. Her drive to make a change in the community led her to create The Bronx-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the Angellyh Yambo Foundation, Inc.

Born and raised in The Bronx to a Puerto Rican Father and an Ecuadorian Mother, Mary has seen the many changes The Bronx has undergone. Tragedy and loss have not deterred her from receiving an M.B.A. in Business Administration with a double major in Finance and Managerial Analytics with distinction. After the loss of her beloved father at a crucial age, Mary worked hard to climb up the ranks in the corporate world.

Francesca DiBlasi

Francesca DiBlasi has been working as a School Counselor at University Prep since 2013. However, she started her career as a Counselor in NYC DOE Transfer Schools back in 2007. During her 17 years as a counselor, she developed a passion for working with young people, identifying student needs and developing interventions to ensure student success. Ms. DiBlasi enjoys being an advocate for young people and working with students to empower them and help them find their voice. Ms. DiBlasi had the privilege of being Angellyh Yambo’s counselor during her freshman year at UPrep. She had the opportunity to work closely with Angellyh and developed a strong relationship with her. She feels blessed to have known her, to have loved her and to continue to pursue justice in Angie’s honor. Ms. DiBlasi’s favorite words to live by are “You may encounter defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, and how you can still come out of it.” – Maya Angelou

Yanely Henriquez

Yanely Henriquez, was born in the Dominican Republic where she lived with her parents and sister. Yanely describes her childhood as wonderful, filled with love, morals, and structure. Yanely’s parents migrated to the USA in 1989. During this trip, Yanely and her sister remained with their maternal grandmother but later came to the US at the age of 9. The family resided in Riverside Drive by the Hudson River with an aunt who allowed the family to stay until they were able to move to Washington Heights. Her daughter, Angellyh was 16 years old when she was tragically taken and while Yanely struggles every day, she knows that she must continue to work towards making sure Angellyh’s legacy lives on. The Angellyh Yambo Foundation will work towards bringing awareness to the community on gun violence and the effects it has on mothers and families. Yanely currently works for Phipps Neighborhoods as a Case Manager. She has been with this company for 14 years working diligently while raising her three children.