Reverend Brother Anthony Patrick "Buddy" Bechner was a beacon of light to countless Student Sponsor Partners (SSP) students in his nearly 30 years of service at All Hallows High School in the South Bronx.  Brother Anthony Bechner, known to his friends as “Buddy,” taught English Literature. Buddy was instrumental in helping guide countless All Hallows students, including myself, out of the poverty and violence in which we grew up. 

My personal experience with Buddy was unique. I first met Buddy over the phone in 1994. My mom was hospitalized and I was home alone as a teenager, fending for myself. Buddy heard about this and called to check in on me and to offer support. Over the next few years at All Hallows, Buddy became my teacher, my confidant, my biggest advocate and my close friend. Buddy fanned the flames of my love for literature and writing and taught me how to view the world and, most importantly, myself differently. Buddy taught me about my value as a person and that I could accomplish anything. 

As the school librarian, Buddy stayed late nearly every day letting students like myself use the computers since  in the mid-90s few of us had one at home. Buddy researched countless college scholarships for students and helped us all write and edit our college essays and scholarship applications. After I was accepted to Middlebury College, Buddy continued to be academic advisor, counselor, and friend as I transitioned to the college's rigorous academics and different culture till the day I graduated college.

The Buddy Scholarship Fund has been set up to provide an All Hallows SSP student an education and the Buddy like mentorship needed to succeed. I know that had I not been fortunate to call Brother Bechner, my buddy, my life and the lives of countless other All Hallows SSP students may have turned out very differently. The Buddy Scholarship Fund is a way of honoring a truly selfless and loving soul who placed his students above anything else.