Eighteen-year-old Antonio Gwynn Jr. saw the damage from protests in his hometown of Buffalo, NY and sprung into action. Grabbing a broom and trash bags, starting at 2:00 a.m., the high school senior started cleaning for the next 10 hours.
When a group of organized neighbors arrived to start cleaning Bailey Avenue, they realized that the 18-year-old had already done most of the work himself.
When word spread about how this young man took action all on his own, his community responded in a big way. First, Matt Block decided to give his 2004 red convertible Mustang to Gwynn. It turned out that Gwynn’s mother, who died in 2018, also drove a red Mustang. Gwynn said that he “didn’t have any words,” in response to the gift and Block said that he got “goosebumps”.
To help out with Gwynn’s new wheels, local businessman Bob Briceland decided to extend a year of free auto insurance to the young man through his insurance agency. “I just felt compelled to help him out. We just need to get together our whole city and show people how there’s so many good people here,” Briceland told CNN affiliate WKBW.
After high school, Gwynn had plans to attend trade school in order to save up for college. Yet, Medaille College in Buffalo, NY wasn’t having it. They offered the young man a full scholarship where he will start this fall. Gwynn plans on studying business, with plans to open a cleaning business of his own in the future.
The truly humble teen is grateful and thankful for the community response, saying to CNN, “I appreciate everything everyone is doing for me.”
Congratulations, Antonio. We unquestionably know that the future is going to be bright for you and we know that this is not the last time that we will hear your name!
