Patrick Braxton-Andrew Memorial Fund

The family and friends of Patrick Braxton-Andrew seek to establish a fund in memory of Patrick, Davidson College Class of 2006, who tragically was killed on October 28, 2018, while traveling in Mexico. Patrick died doing what he loved most, exploring the world and engaging with people where they lived. This fund will honor Patrick’s spirit of adventure by providing grants to Davidson students for summer international experiences for study, research, internships, or travel.

Patrick grew up in Davidson, NC, where his father Gary Andrew served as the cross-country coach at Davidson College for nearly 30 years. Not long after graduating Davidson College in 2006 with a B.A. in English, Patrick traveled to Costa Rica with his family with limited Spanish skills. The ten-day trip to Latin America turned out to be a transformative one, awakening Patrick's passion for travel and a genuine interest in learning Spanish, a language he'd struggled with as a high school and college student. He devoted the next two years of his life to saving money sufficient to fund an extended trip through Latin America, an opportunity to experience and appreciate the beautiful and diverse cultures throughout the region and to learn the Spanish language spoken by so much of the world.

In 2008, Patrick purchased a one-way ticket to Mexico City. Over the next eighteen months, Patrick traversed Mexico, Central America, and the northern parts of South America. He studied Spanish and lived with an incomparable host family in San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala. The friends Patrick made during his trip became some of his dearest friends. Thus began a decade of adventurous travel throughout Central America. As his brother Kerry noted, “He loved going to smaller communities, especially in Latin America, and just talking with locals. So, he could actually sit down next to a street vendor and spend a couple of hours talking to them about their life and their family."

Patrick was loved by all who encountered him. His zest for life, unfailingly positive attitude, gentle nature, and winning smile attracted new friends wherever he went; his ability to be present and engage people authentically made them friends for life. Patrick’s family and friends hope you will join us in funding this project in his memory and establishing a lasting legacy that will honor his spirit of adventure and his gift of connecting with people from other cultures.

Patrick’s family shared, "Patrick died doing what he loved—traveling and meeting people. Join us in celebrating his life as he would want us to do. We will always remember Patrick and his joy for life. We love you, PBA."

This crowdfunding site is among the primary fundraising tools for the Patrick Braxton-Andrew Memorial Fund for International Travel. Checks may also be sent to the Patrick Braxton-Andrew Memorial Fund at Davidson College, Box 7170, Davidson, NC 28035. If you are interested in making a pledge, or gift of stocks and securities, please contact Director of Planned Giving, Gray Dyer ’96 at grdyer@davidson.edu or 704-894-2478. Thank you for your support.