MIRACLE MOMENT®
“Volunteering is at the core of being a human.” – Heather French Henry
A MESSAGE from Founder/Executive Director, CYNTHIA BRIAN
The start of autumn was a tremendous extravaganza for volunteers, donors, and supporters who enjoyed participating in the Parade and Pear Festival honoring the 50th Anniversary of the Town of Moraga, the 25th Anniversary of Be the Star You Are®, and the honor won by BTSYA as the 2024 Nonprofit of the Year!
Our BTSYA teens went above and beyond to make September 28th a day that will be remembered. Our Parade Chairperson and 25th Anniversary Party Coordinator, Ella Kalpakjian, decorated a truck with stars, filled it with balloons, and made signs honoring the celebration while volunteers walked behind the drummers chanting our motto: “Read, lead, succeed!” as they handed our Madeleine cookies donated by our sponsor, MB Jessee painting.
With over 700 parade participants, when planning our BTSYA performance, we were concerned that everyone would be “in” the parade and there would be no parade “watchers”. We need not have worried as the streets were packed with thousands of smiling, cheering, and clapping onlookers who enjoyed the festive atmosphere and small-town spirit. Our teen videographer and photographer, Sean Kwok, was running up and down the streets capturing the excitement and the pageantry.
When we finally arrived at the Pear Festival, all the teens leaped into action under the direction of our two teen chairpersons, Sharnaya Roy and Keerthi Eranivan, as we were joyfully bombarded with giggling children who wanted to plant seeds to take home to grow, and have a story read to them at our Reading Circle.
Everyone was given a goodie bag filled with fun stickers and treats. Parents bought books to give as gifts and were offered free bags of potpourri and fresh bay leaves.
When it was time for Be the Star You Are!® to be introduced and honored on-stage as the 2024 Nonprofit of the Year, Ella took to the microphone to express gratitude to everyone who has been a part of our experience of serving the world for the past 25 years. After all the cheers and honors, the Chamber Board and other dignitaries gathered at the BTSYA booth for a raucous ribbon cutting.
Our culinary coordinator, Julia Howe broke out the goodies and we partied and enjoyed freshly baked treats. As we began dismantling our tent and booth, we gave our thanks to our sponsors, MB Jessee Painting, the Lamorinda Weekly newspaper, and StarStyle ® Productions, LLC, who support us yearly at the Pear Festival.
Tired, but elated, the teens left for Homecoming engagements, dance recitals, SAT practice exams, sports practice, and weekend homework. This was a stellar event and we give our gratitude to the Town of Moraga and all the organizers for including Be the Star You Are!® in this once-in-a-lifetime celebration. If you missed it, we’ll be posting videos on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/Bethestaryouareas well as posting photos on our website at https://www.BetheStarYouAre.org
Thank you to everyone who organized, contributed, visited, or participated. We are GRATEFUL.
And that’s a WRAP!
With gratitude,
Cynthia Brian
Founder/Executive Director
PO box 376
Moraga, California 94556
Make a DONATION through PAYPAL GIVING FUND and PAYPAL with 100% going to BTSYA with NO FEES: https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504
2024 Top NonProfit and 2024 NonProfit of the Year!
DONATE: https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504
TEEN TALK
The Parade and Pear Festival Festivities were organized and orchestrated by Be the Star You Are!® teen volunteers. Here is their wrap-up of this incredible day.
Ella Kalpakjian: Parade Chairperson and 25th Anniversary Party Coordinator
“I had a blast when I joined Be the Star You Are!® in Moraga’s 50th Anniversary celebrations. We attended the parade, where I rode in the back of a decorated truck while my fellow volunteers walked in front. Despite the balloons flying in my face, I couldn’t help but feel joy as I saw my community members watching us drive by. Among the children, we were a big hit because of the madeleines we handed out (donated by our sponsor MBJessee). The parade felt like a momentous event, a culmination of everything I love in Moraga. Saint Mary’s College, Kiwanis, local schools, and even Lamorinda Idol (a local singing competition) all had a place in the parade.
After the excitement of the parade, we headed over to the festival. Once again, many groups from across the town came together. And this year, there was special pear merchandise and even a cookbook of local recipes sold!
BTSYA was honored for our 25th anniversary as an organization, and for winning Moraga’s Nonprofit of the Year award. I had the opportunity to speak on stage, and we all participated in a ribbon cutting outside of our booth. It was amazing to feel so involved in my community, and seeing my town come together in celebration made me happier than ever to call myself a Moraga resident.”
See Ella speak on stage:
Sean Kwok: Videographer and Photographer
“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have attended and volunteered at the Parade and Pear and Wine Festival with Be the Star You Are! It was so great seeing all of the other volunteers and meeting the locals of Moraga- the town itself has such a friendly and welcoming community, especially with everyone coming out to support us at the parade. Filming and photographing both events was super fun and I had a great time, and I’m so glad to have been there. Looking forward to future events for everything else with Be the Star You Are!® and the community of Moraga!”
Julia Howe: Culinary Coordinator and Radio Host
“As I walked through the streets of Moraga during the parade, I was genuinely struck by the joy in the atmosphere. The sight of so many smiling children, the energy of the dedicated volunteers, the music, and the laughter all contributed to an unforgettable experience. I could truly feel the impact of our efforts at Be the Star You Are!®. It made me proud to represent our organization at the parade, and I feel fortunate to be part of such an inspiring group of individuals every day.
One of my favorite moments was helping the kids with the egg-carton planting activity, a metaphor for our “Plant the Seeds of Literacy!” program Their giggles as they created their little projects, choosing seeds and playing with dirt, reminded me of who we are serving. These kids are the next generation, and it’s amazing to know we’re making a difference in their lives, one seed, one book at a time. Thank you so much!”
Keerthi Eranivan-Co-Chair for the Pear Festival Booth and Radio Host
“Volunteering for BTSYA at the Pear Festival and 50th Anniversary Parade was a one-of-a-kind experience. I got to see the real impact of our nonprofit in the Moraga and Bay Area communities. It’s truly surreal to see so many people from all walks of life out there supporting what we do as a global charity and helping us spread awareness for literacy. Thanks!”
Sharanya Roy-Co-Chair for the Pear Festival Booth and Radio Host
“Volunteering at the Pear and Wine Festival booth for BTSYA was an incredible experience filled with joy and loads of laughter. Engaging with young kids and community members brought a vibrant energy to the event, and it was heartwarming to see their excitement. Walking in the parade was equally fun and exciting; I loved tossing out madeleines and chanting our motto, “Read, Lead, and Succeed.” The enthusiasm from the crowd made it a truly unforgettable day, highlighting the importance of community and the joy of sharing our mission with others.”
BROADCASTING ON THE RADIO
These teens discussed their involvement in Be the Star You Are!® and the impact of participating in the Parade, Festival, Stage Presentation, Ribbon Cutting, and Party on Express Yourself!® Teen Radio. Tune in here to hear their enthusiasm in their own words. Listen at Voice America Network, Empowerment Channel: https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/151631/the-parade-and-pear-festival-party
You can also tune in wherever you enjoy your podcasts or music:
Apple iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id481894121
Tunein: https://tunein.com/podcasts/Young-Adult/Express-Yourself-p401071/
Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/voice-america/express-yourself
iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-express-yourself-31136273/
Check our lifestyle broadcast, StarStyle®-Be the Star You Are!® LIVE on Wednesdays from 4-5 pm PT . Listen at Voice America Network: https://www.voiceamerica.com/show/2206/be-the-star-you-are and available on your favorite platforms:
Apple iTunes:
Tunein: https://tunein.com/podcasts/Motivational/StarStyle—Be-the-Star-You-Are-p46014/
Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/voice-america/be-the-star-you-are
IHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-starstyle-be-the-star-you-31083110/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/embed/show/4zDdwzlsHH44caWiMQdD25
SubStack: https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/228120.rss
Pocketcasts: https://pca.st/mjw2ng5n
AUTUMN KINDNESS
by Karen Kitchel
A silver lining to saying goodbye to summer is often when pumpkins and the first golden leaves appear. Instead of lemonade, we might order a spiced latte. While days at the beach are a thing of the past, long drives to “see the colors” create lasting memories.
How to make it an even better season? Sprinkle it with kindness. Pay for the latte of the person behind you in line. See if there’s someone at a nearby living assisted center who would be thrilled to ride along to see the leaves. Candy bars are a rare treat for those who are homeless or live in a shelter. Scatter some kindness in a way you’ve never done before.
Welcome to Autumn!
Karen Kitchel is the Kindness Coordinator volunteer with BTSYA. She purchased the book, No Barnyard Bullies, as a gift for every kindergarten student where she is a volunteer teacher. www.scatteringkindness.com . She loves pumpkins!
MAKE SURE TO VOTE
It’s a privilege to be an American and be able to vote. Please vote for the best people, policies, and programs instead of voting party. Everyone is important. Every vote counts. We want a country that is caring, considerate, and inclusive with a leader of integrity, character, and conscience. Your vote matters. United we stand, divided we fall.
Photo and Video credits© 2024 Sean Kwok and Cynthia Brian
Have a SAFE and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
