About Be the Star You Are! charity
“To be a leader, you must be a reader.” Cynthia Brian, Founder
OVERVIEW The prevalence of violence in the media and its potential harm is a concern for many family and community members. Today’s youth are finding it increasingly difficult to recognize that they have the ability, responsibility, and power to determine their own destiny and choose their own future. To help them, they need access to positive and productive information and role models that will lead them beyond the negative messages in the media, and on to becoming the individual stars that they are. Everyone needs to discover passion, learn life skills, gain effective conflict management skills, and build self-esteem, and we at Be the Star You Are! believe that can be accomplished through improving literacy and positive messages for women, families, and kids.
STATISTICS: According to the September 1999 Senate Committee on the Judiciary Survey on Children, Violence and the Media: ∑ An American child will have seen 16,000 simulated murders and 200,000 acts of violence by the age of 18 ∑ Modern music lyrics have become increasingly explicit concerning sex, drugs, and violence against women ∑ More than 1,000,000 Web sites exist on the Internet, exposing America’s youth to violent words, music and images
The 1997 National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) reported that juveniles under age 18 were involved in 27% of all serious violent victimizations, including 14% of sexual assaults, 30% of robberies, and 27% of aggravated assaults.
In 1998, nearly four in 10 fourth-graders nationwide failed to achieve even partial mastery of the reading skills needed for school success. In our highest-poverty schools, nearly seven in 10 fourth-graders fail to read at this basic level.
Teens with poor self-esteem are more vulnerable to peer pressure, more likely to have depressive reactions, eating disorders, and low achievement standards. They are at higher risk to abuse alcohol and drugs, partake in violent activities, and to take risks such as driving dangerously.
MISSION Be the Star You Are! is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation that collects and distributes books and other positive media to women, families, and youth at risk as a way to raise their life skills and self esteem. This media ranges from education and advisement to inspiration and guidance and covers every aspect of life, from abuse through money management.
Be the Star You Are! is an ALL volunteer organization that operates through contributions, in-kind donations, and proceeds from fund-raising events. Be the Star You Are! does not receive state or federal funding and is solely dependent on contributions from the community and corporations.
Be the Star You Are! has no religious or political agendas or affiliations.
Be the Star You Are! was founded in 1999 by Cynthia Brian, whose list of achievements include author, producer, wife, mother, model, teacher, interior designer, gardener, artist, casting director, and television and radio host. Her belief is that we were not created equal. We are unique and all individuals can live their dreams if they have the opportunity and encouragement to develop a plan, obtain the skills necessary to create their own destiny, and most of all, believe in themselves and all their possibilities. It was this desire to help people enhance their quality of living and experience life’s joy that motivated Cynthia to found Be the Star You Are! as a non-profit organization devoted to empowering youth at risk through literacy and positive media.
SERVING WOMEN, FAMILIES, AND YOUTH AT RISK Be the Star You Are! collects and distributes books and media to provide women, youth at risk and their families with tools and resources that promote personal growth, skill development and examples of positive role models.
Be the Star You Are! supplements this material with a number of focused programs including Starstyle®Be the Star You Are! radio program which is syndicated in several markets providing authors and selected books to encourage literacy, self-worth, and a positive life style for our younger generation as well as their families. The official radio station of the charity is World Talk Radio based out of San Diego, California (www.worldtalkradio.com)
In addition, Be the Star You Are! employs a volunteer Star Teen Book Review Team that read and review books aimed at youth. These reviews are then published at thereadingtub.org to help parents, teachers, and librarians make informed decisions on what books will entertain and educate children and teens. The Mindful Morning Star project pairs drawings from aspiring artists of all ages with quotes to inspire and motivate which are then published at eMindful.com and on bethestaryouare.org.
Since its founding, Be the Star You Are! has served approximately 163,800 individuals and families within 50 organizations and has logged more than 109,800 volunteer hours, while distributing over $1.5 million in resources.
YOUR DONATIONS AT WORK My name is Serena and I just want to thank you for the inspirational books you sent to us at the Chris Adams Girls Center. Thank you so much. It really means a lot to me. I think there should be a lot more people like you in the world. Thanks from the bottom of my heart.” Serena, teenager at Chris Adams Girls Center, Juvenile Hall
H”You guys at Be the Star You Are! are the BEST. Thank all your volunteers from all of the firefighters, rescue workers, and their families for the thousands of books, tapes, and CD’s you provided us during this time of horror. Be the Star You Are! was one of the first to respond to our needs after 9/11. You have no idea how much you have made a difference for New Yorker’s with Operation Ground Hero. We appreciate what you are doing.” Ted Frett, Deputy Director, Family Crisis and Counseling Center, New York Fire Department(FDNY)
H”Thank you so much, BE THE STAR YOU ARE®!, for supporting our population of homeless and runaway youth with your kind donations of books, tapes and magazines! Your efforts are sincerely appreciated.” Karen Lottman, Northern California Family Center Safe Place
H”Thank you so very much for the donation of inspirational and motivational books, CD’s, and audio tapes which are distributed to our counseling and Proud Fathers programs to strengthen families and to treat and prevent child abuse and neglect. Your materials are used for our instructional activities as well as for positive reinforcement. They are helping to solve the issues that interfere with a person’s ability to be a nurturing parent.” Barbara Bysiek, LCSW, Executive Director, Family Stress Center
H”Our options were limited until “Be the Star You Are” came into our lives. The Juvenile Hall staff is happy to pass out your materials and see a glowing transformation in progress as the youngsters speak and act more positively. There is little doubt that the positive impact, “Be the Star You Are,” has had on our youth will be most evident years from now.” Shannon Grosenheider, Executive Administratior Juvenile Hall Auxiliary
BENEFICIARIES YOUR DONATIONS SUPPORT:
Boys and Girls Club Bay Area Crisis Nursery Born Free Program (Teen pregnancies and babies) Community Substance Abuse Center (alcohol and substance abuse) Children’s Hospital Reach Out and Read Chai Lifeline, Illinois (children with life threatening illness) Chris Adams Girls Center (troubled girls) Edgar Transition Center (Teens) Family Stress Center Family Support Center Girls, Inc. (mentoring young girls) ILSP Independent Living Jewish Children’s Bureau, Illinois Juvenile Hall Auxiliary (kids-at-risk) Native American Life Skills Center, Wisconsin New York Fire Department Family Crisis Center, New York Northern Calif. Family Center SAFE PLACE (runaway teens and crisis center) Office of the Public Guardian, Illinois (abused kids) Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility Summit Center (forgotten young people) Youth Industry Hamilton Family Center (homeless families) Wings to Fly (Foster Kids) Camp Kimble for Kids Paul F. Byrd Foundation (Mathematics Scholarships for youth at San Jose State University) JoAnn Cayce Charities, Thorton, Arkansas (poverty stricken families and children) Cheerful Givers, Minnesota and Louisiana Hurricane Relief, Horace Ketchums,Gulf Coast Contra Costa County Libraries Walnut Creek Volunteer Center Write On! Literacy Charity for Youth Bay Area Rescue Mission Habitat for Humanity Center for the Deaf Bret Harte Foundation Mountain View Community Church, San Diego Fire Victims Casa de Amparo, Oceanside The Rock Church Fire Relief, San Diego Toys for Tots
Net proceeds generated from fundraisers will be utilized to expand our efforts to support youth groups and youth at risk. This expansion includes:
¸ Reading Spells Success! and STAR Teen book reviews ¸ Creation of a youth writing program ¸ Mindful Morning Star Inspirational Quote and Art program ¸ Training & Mentoring ¸ Teen symposium ¸ Acquisition of resources ¸ Distribution expenses ¸ Media production ¸ Office Administration ¸ Radio Broadcasts of positive programming
Be the Star You Are! has demonstrated it can make a difference in the lives of our youth by providing them with the tools and encouragement they need to achieve personal development. Be the Star You Are! receives continual accolades from the organizations with which it works and the individuals that it benefits. Be the Star You Are!® has demonstrated fiscal responsibility, competent personnel, and strong support from the community.
Encouraging, inspiring, informing, motivating, and empowering youth at risk through literacy and positive media!. EVERYBODY COUNTS!
For additional information please contact:
Cynthia Brian Founder/Executive Director Be the Star You Are! 1660 School Street #101 D Moraga, California 94556 Phone: 925.376.7126 http://www.bethestaryouare.org info@bethestaryouare.org
