Be The Star You Are!® 501 (c)(3)

What the kids are saying about BE THE STAR YOU ARE!^™ literacy outreach program Reading SPELLS Success
(Comments are taken directly as received from the letters and cards from kids in juvenile hall facilities. No editing has be done, names are withheld for privacy)

"I love to be read to. As you know I am away from home from bad things I did in the past. And with 20 girls, things could get crazy around here! But when Nanna, the reader, comes I feel like a kid again. I even fall asleep. So you see it makes it so much more better to be here. Yes, I enjoy our reader."

"I enjoy you coming down to read to us! You’re cool and fun and sweet and most Monday nights I look forward to listening to you. I get all excited and hope you come. It’s really nice to have you around. Thank you."

"I think the reader is nice and sweet, I really appreciate her coming on her time to do stuff like this for us. Thank you."

"Well, it’s me, and I haven’t been here forever yet…but I am glad that I got to know a little about you. I do know that you are patient and calm. And you do show the girls in here lots of love and respect. And we’re glad that you take time out to do this with us because most people wouldn’t. A lot of thanks.”

"I really like it when you come on your own time to read to us. I oppreshiate it."

"Well, me, I love it when the reader comes. She is so nice and it’s not just that she reads good, but she also talks to us, all of us. She also tries to get us Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Her voice is very soothing so even if we don’t come out of our room to listen to her we still hear her though out doors. And her voice helps me sleep. I have problems with sleeping. But every Monday, I sleep great. I wish she would come and read every night. Not just so I could sleep but the story’s she reads are pretty cool. I like them. From hearing all the stories I started reading mostly Chicken Soup. I never read before so she has really helped me in many ways. I wish she could read more nights a week. I look forward to every Monday. We love listening to ‘THE READER’."

"I really like the reader because I get to get out of my room and she makes me sleep well sometimes.”

e The Star You Are!™ receives many letters of praise from groups that that benefit from our charity. Here are some samples:

“Be the Star You Are! organization has supported our efforts by providing wonderful children’s books that we include in our birthday gift bags. Many of the children receiving them have never owned a book and this is a way to introduce them to the wonderful world of reading. Birthday gift bags are distributed in shelters and through food shelves where managers have seen the delight in the eyes of the children receiving your beautiful books. We know the books are having a positive impact on the increased literacy of these children along with increased self-esteem. “ Karen Kitchel, President, Cheerful Givers

“Because dogs & cats can't read, these play toys are wonderful substitutes and will be given to the office animals and to the animals going to new homes, and to the animals waiting to be adopted to help pass the time. " Lanie Thompson, Adoption Manager at ARF (Animal Rescue Foundation)

“By providing books, Be the Star You Are! has increased literacy for our new low income homeowners. Many of our children do not have access to libraries and you are improving their reading skills. Thanks a lot for the helpful books.” Isabel Paez, Habitat for Humanity

“I am speechless with happiness and gratitude to Be the Star You Are! for your generous donation of beautiful books to my Write On! Book Drive. You are doing amazing work and you are an inspiration.” Dallas Woodburn, Founder Write On! Literacy Foundation for kids

“It is clear your organization does good work and I'm glad teenagers are involved in it. It's important to learn to give to others from an early age and will hopefully help make the world a better place. Marjorie Nathanson Keeler

“Our children were thrilled to receive a book each from you. A book is truly a magical gift, forwarding language learning and literacy skills that will last a lifetime. Early language development, while important for all children, is of paramount importance for the special population we educate, who have many challenges. Thank you for helping invest in our children’s future.” Jill Ellis, M.Ed., Executive Director, Center for Early Intervention on Deafness

“Our people have used everything from every shipment and the materials are really making a difference. Thank you so much for your help and we look forward to an ongoing association with BE THE STAR YOU ARE®!” Becky Gomez, Born Free

“Our Safe Haven resource center library greatly appreciates receiving appropriate materials for the shelves. We thank you for finding us.” Karen Guard Founder, Safe Haven for Little People

“Thank you for finding "hard to find" material on grief related to pet loss and sharing it with our group.” Dr. Cecelia Soares Pet Grief Counseling

“Thank you for the “Star Searcher’s Express” Newsletter. God bless you for going forth with the mission of BTSYA! God bless your volunteers! God bless the beneficiaries! Please keep me on the newsletter’s mailing list. You and your volunteers deserve such recognition for the hard work and caring spirit exhibited towards helping others.” Vicki Craig, Attorney

“Thank you for your donations of fantastic books. The clients love the books. Wardrobe for Opportunity relies on contributions like yours to provide economically disadvantaged women transitioning from welfare to help them find a job which helps them to achieve economic self-sufficiency.” Karen Smith, Executive Director, Wardrobe for Opportunity

“Thank you so much for your generous donation of books which is extremely important to our various clients. Reading is so important to the development of young minds and your donation helps the young people tremendously.” Lauren Gray, Monument Crisis Center Volunteer

“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

“Thanks also for all that you and Heather do to promote literacy. You two are a ball of fire and I wish you and your organization continued growth and success.” John DeDakis, CNN Senior Copy Editor (Wolf Blitzer's Situation Room)

“The youngsters we provide service to would like to say “thank you”, for your very generous donation of new books. The titles are fabulous and the kids totally enjoy reading them. It means a great deal to these children to be remembered, and your donation is often the only gift the children have ever received. Our hope is that your act of kindness will help generate good deeds in them. We are very fortunate to have such quality books donated by you to inspire them." Shannon Grosenheider, Executive Administrative Assistant, Juvenile Hall Auxiliary

“We appreciate the opportunity in helping to enrich lives needing to be nurtured. What better way than reading and listening as these are key processes of doing this. We are happy to participate.” Pat Berndt LITA (Love Is The Answer)

“We at the Bay Area Rescue Mission Family Center would like to take a moment to say thank you for the books you donated to our Family Center. Your thoughtfulness and kindness to the Bay Area Rescue Mission is greatly appreciated. Again, thank you.” Carey Kachurka, Director, Bay Area Rescue

“You are so awesome! I read your newsletters. You inspire me.” Yasmin Shiraz, Author of Blue Print for My Girls in Love

“Your messages about charity are so profoundly touching to me. I too am touched deeply by the incredible amount of good people in this world. It is, in my humble opinion, people just like you who truly make this world a better place to live ~ I only wish that our media would focus on people like your charities, teens, people who volunteer and give of themselves to others that truly makes life worth living ~ Your sparkling eyes are so incredibly filled with such light.” Judy Azar LeBlanc , Author, Many Faces to Many Places

Be The Star You Are!™
PO Box 376, Moraga, CA 94556
Tel: 877.944.STAR or 925.376.7126
Fax: 925.376.7142

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