Easterns Blog

Eastern Motors and Fox 5 DC recently came together for a very special edition of Pay it Forward. The purpose of this paying it forward to this specific cause was to celebrate a young woman?s personal achievements and contributions to the community as her mother fights to keep her legacy alive. Jamahri Syndor was a very bright student that was preparing for college. She was loved not only by friends and family but also local members of the community. Many would agree with saying that Syndor was truly a special girl. She had just graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School where she was a cheer caption and member of the choir. As of that wasn?t enough, Syndor also found the time to have part-time job, volunteer with kids, and dance in a troupe.

August 10th, 2017 was the day that changed everything. This was the day that Syndor was shot by a stray bullet while driving through northeast D.C. This happened just days before she was scheduled to leave to attend college at Florida A&M University. Syndor passed away two days later and is survived by her mother, Queen Wallace, whom is a veteran police sergeant in the district. This has been quite devastation to the family but they are looking for a memorable way to ?Pay It Forward? through the form of a foundation, scholarship, or dance program.

Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive Group received word about what happened to Sydnor and the legacy that she wanted to leave behind so they made a very special donation in her honor. The owner of artist of AA and Beek, Victor Barranco, created a very special memorial to honor Sydnor?s work with the children at Chevy Chase Community Center in northeast D.C. Francesca Scott, who is a program coordinator at the Chevy Chase Community Center accepted the art piece. Scott was able to speak candidly and provide insight as to just how much work Syndor and her sister did the kids. The two had planned and hosted the Valentine?s Day tea party every year for the kids. This story touched the Pay it Forward team so Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group donated a total of $1,500 to the Chevy Chase Community Center to help out with the tea party and other holiday activities. Easterns also donated another $1,500 to the mother of Sydnor to officially kick-start the Jamahri Sydnor Memorial Fund. The overall goal of the fund will be to create a scholarship in Sydnor?s name to help heading to college in the D.C. metro area.

If you know someone in the DC, Maryland, or Virginia area that goes above and beyond the call and worthy of being recognized, CLICK HERE to nominate them.