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HOLIDAY 2001 NEWSLETTER

It is not now, and has never been, our intention to send this free newsletter to anyone who does not want it.  If you received this in error, please respond with "REMOVE" on the subject line.  Forward this to anyone who you think may be interested in its contents.  If this was forwarded to you, and you want to receive it monthly, reply with "SUBSCRIBE" in the subject line. Visit our web site at http://www.bethestaryouare.org.  Please note, by responding to this email, you do not reach the charity.  To reach Cynthia Brian directly, email her at cynthia@bethestaryouare.org. Thank you.

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This is a holiday of a different color.  As we all deal with the magnitude of our nation's losses, wounds, fears, tears, and determination to rid the world of terrorism,  we hope that you will find solace and love with family, friends, and common grounds this holiday season. We at Be the Star You Are!™ charity are proud to be American and grateful to the many heroes and heroines who have displayed courage and bravery in the face of tragedy and destruction. Our wish for you this year is that you will celebrate each and every moment of your day and reflect on the many blessings you already have. May you resonate with national patriotism and have a very happy, healthy, and loving holiday season.  Remember, to BE THE STARS YOU ALREADY ARE!

OUR MISSION:
Be the Star You Are!™ is a library of books and other media donated to youth at risk to raise their skills and self-esteem to improve their daily lives.  This media ranges from education and advisement to inspiration and guidance which covers every aspect of life from abuse through money management.  Be the Star You Are!™ has no religious or political agendas or affiliations as it caters to the literate and illiterate by providing audio tapes and videos as well as books to give these kids a head start in their lives so they can beat the odds.

MIRACLE MOMENT:
Live, laugh, learn, lead, and most of all make a difference.

UPDATE ON OPERATION GROUND HERO:
On September 13, 2001, our volunteers went into action to assist in the healing and offer some solace to the families of the victims of our day of tragedy on September 11. What began as a small grass roots effort to uplift, inspire, entertain, and comfort the families of the over 300 firefighters, police, and rescue workers who were killed while trying to save others, soon turned into a national campaign.  We collected and shipped over 49 crates of books, audio tapes, CD's, and videos with a value of approximately $30,000 to the New York Fire Department Headquarters in New York where Ted Frett, the Deputy Director for Family Counseling and Crisis Services oversaw the distribution.  According to Ted, Be the Star You Are!™ really made a difference for families and youth during a very difficult time when other resources we not yet available to these victims of the tragedy.

We gained a wonderful East Coast liaison, Dale Porter, in Pennsylvania who will be continuing the collection and distribution of resources on the East Coast through the end of 2001.  If you want to participate in OPERATION GROUND HERO, resources can be dropped off or sent to these two locations:  

OPERATION GROUND HERO, PMB 303, 1708 East Lancaster Ave., Paoli, PA 19301-1553 
OPERATION GROUND HERO, 229 Poplar  Ave., Devon, PA 19333.

Be the Star You Are!™ Charity wants to take this opportunity to thank the many volunteers, individuals, businesses, authors, and all those who made this campaign such a success.  With gratitude to all from the bottom of our hearts :

Chairpersons: Cynthia Brian and Pat Hallberg

East Coast Liaison: Dale Porter

Volunteers: Juliet Shanks, Sherab Wangden, Diane Slater, Kim Carlson, Gail Thorson, Sara La France, Suzanne Ackerman (who connected us with the NY Fire Department)

Teen Volunteers: Michael Manfrin, Kelly Rringelman, Andrea Hernandez, Joanne Davi, Nicole Reid, Andrea Ragni, Sarah Maes, Jennifer Cortz, Julia Jorelan, Heather Brittany

Major Donors:
Shipping: Sunny Express Shipping and Jason Vinet
Collection Bins: Moraga Hardware
Financial Contributions: Dr. David Loveall, The Rabe Family, Bayview Bank, Lafayette

Major Book Donations:
Ten Speed Press and Cynthia Brian donated autographed copies of the book Be the Star You Are!™ 
The Papanek Family donated 5 boxes of  children/teen books
Ella Garrickson donated 5 boxes of children/teen books
Carol Adrienne donated boxes of her book The Purpose of Your Life
Cynthia Long donated hand-made memory books
Georgia Shakti -Hill donated boxes of her book Sharing the Light
Elisabeth Keely Wilson donated autographed copies of her book
Kaleidoscope
Mark Victor Hansen donated Chicken Soup for the Kid's Soul and Chicken Soup for the Pre-Teen Soul
Gerald Jampolsky donated boxes of his book Love is Letting Go of Fear

Businesses who collected or assisted:

City of Lafayette Bus Program
 Starstyle™ Productions
Sí Sí Caffé
De La Salle High
Altary, Inc.
Alain Pinel Realtors
Barnes & Noble
D'Lohns Hair Salon
Moraga Hardware
Petaluma Mother's Club
Bayview Bank
Brian Sheaff DDS
Dr. David Loveall
Mailboxes, etc. in PA.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS:
NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SELECTED:  Be the Star You Are!™ charity welcomes our new Executive Director, Jason Vinet, as he begins to reorganize our programs and volunteers for maximum efficiency.  Jason is Vice President of Sunny Express Freight and is excited about his new position with our charity.  You'll be hearing more about Jason and his innovative ideas to help Be the Star You Are!™ be more dynamic in 2002.  WELCOME JASON!!!  We are delighted to have you on board.

LITERACY PROGRAM:
Be the Star You Are!™ 's "Reading SPELLS Success" is participating in the Juvenile Hall BEDTIME READERS program, continuing to read to outpatient children in the waiting room of Children's Hospital Clinic in their REACH OUT & READ program and will establish sessions reading to the little ones at the Bay Area Crisis Nursery in Concord.  Anyone who is interested in becoming a reader for any of these programs or would like to talk about the growth of "Reading SPELLS Success" in our community, please contact Pat Hallberg 925-935-0669 or patnross@earthlink.net

DISTRIBUTION OUTREACH RE-ORGANIZED:
The last delivery for 2001 will be in December with distribution to beneficiaries to include Crisis Nursery, Boys & Girls Club of Martinez, Juvenile Hall, Family Stress Center, Children's Hospital, Safe Place (run away kids), ILSP kids (foster homes), Tenderloin Edu. Center (homeless kids library), and Youth Industries (text books only).

Our new focus on KIDS-AT-RISK will necessitate the termination of beneficiaries including LITA, Born Free, Safe Haven, Stand, Substance Abuse, Wardrobe for Opportunity, Pet Grief

OCTOBER BOOK SALE:
Thanks to Sí Sí Caffé for hosting our fundraising Book Sale on October 7th. Thanks to chairperson, Pat Hallberg and her volunteers Sherab Wangden, Susan Sykes, Heather Brittany for organizing the event and to best selling authors , Marilyn Azevedo (Defending Andy)  and Cynthia Brian (Chicken Soup for the Gardener's Soul and Be the Star You Are! 99 Gifts to Living, Loving, Laughing, and Learning to Make a Difference) who were on hand to greet guests and autograph books.

SUPERSTARS SPOTLIGHT:
STAR VOLUNTEER: Pat Hallberg, our Program Director, receives this award this month hands down.  Pat has worked nonstop throughout the Fall to help reorganize the charity, coordinate our teens with OPERATION GROUND HERO, and prepare for our Winter Resource Distributions to our beneficiaries.  She has also been running our Reading SPELLS Success program and is initiating our new night time program at juvenile hall. In addition, she has taken over the jobs of various other volunteers who were not able to complete their assignments and be our all around worker bee.  When something needs to be done, Pat can make it happen.  Kudos and gratitude to our super woman, Pat Hallberg.  Pat is one busy lady with a heart of gold.

CREATIVE WAYS TO GIVE:
A recent Wall Street Journal report confirmed that non-profit organizations are facing a "funding drought" in the wake of the attacks of September 11.  Be the Star You Are!™ is experiencing a serious financial downturn and we need your help to continue our programs and meet our obligations.  During this holiday season and time for giving, please consider making a financial donation to Be the Star You Are!™ 501 (c)(3) charity.

In an era when violence, terrorism, and skepticism dominate the airwaves, Be the Star You Are!™ charity offers a refreshing, welcome alternative helping kids beat the odds and encouraging the American Dream.

Here are a few ways you can contribute:

* Send a tax-deductible contribution or offer a monetary tribute or
memoriam to a loved one
* Buy quantities of the two books which donate sales proceeds to our charity: Chicken Soup for the Gardener's Soul (HCI) and Be the Star You Are! 99 Gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing and Learning to Make a Difference (Ten Speed Press) (Available through our office, on-line, or in stores) These make great holiday gifts and can be autographed for you.
* Donate air miles
* Donate goods that can be auctioned off at an event
* Sponsor an event making Be the Star You Are!™ the charitable
beneficiary
* Ask your company to match your donation or make a contribution
* Volunteer time
* Become a Benefactor
* Establish A Charitable Giving Account with an Investment Firm in the name of Be the Star You Are!™.

Please join our galaxy of Stars and support Be the Star You Are!™ with your contributions and/or ask your company to be on our team. Visit the web site at www.bethestaryouare.org for more information. Please send your checks to: 

Be the Star You Are!™, PO Box 376, Moraga, California 94556.

We can be reached at 877-944-STAR. You will receive a receipt for your tax deductible donation. Credit card contributions and  purchases are accepted.  Thank you for your support.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR FOUNDER:
Our lives have all changed since September 11.  It has been the worst of times, yet the best of humaness.  We have cried together, mourned together and united together as a nation and as a world people.  I am deeply moved by the outpouring of support for the families who suffered so greatly in New York, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania.  I have such enormous pride in our citizens and our politicians who have shown restraint, consideration and determination as we face the dangers as a nation. Yes we are changed and we are stronger.

On behalf of everyone at Be the Star You Are!™, we continue to offer our prayers of sympathy and deepest condolences to all of those who are suffering as a result of the evil acts of the terrorists.  As we face our fears and the future, may we all remember that our government was founded on liberty and justice. America will emerge a greater nation because of the amazingly brave and courageous people that inhabit this country.

Thank you to all of you who have helped the efforts and also to those of you who continue to support Be the Star You Are!™ programs.  If at all possible, consider making a financial contribution to Be the Star You Are!™.  It's tax deductible and you have no idea how much it will help us continue helping others and to initiate emergency programs such as our important and successful OPERATION GROUND HERO. We're a small charity, but we are mighty!

I am honored to be a volunteer of Be the Star You Are!™.  I am proud to be an American.

Remember to express your love for one another and to live in the moment.

God bless you and have a very happy, healthy, and grateful holiday season.

With gratitude,
Cynthia Brian
Founder

Be the Star You Are!™
PO Box 376
Moraga, Ca. 94556
877-944-STAR
http://www.bethestaryouare.org

Cynthia Brian is the Founder and President of Be the Star You Are!™.  Please visit www.bethestaryouare.org for biographical information. Be the Star You Are!™  a 501(c)(3) non profit

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ORDER FORM:

PRODUCTS AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR CHARITY.  Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

PRODUCTS CAN BE ORDERED DIRECTLY!

PRICE LIST

Be the Star You Are!™ Book    
              $15.95 plus $1.35 tax=$17.30

Miracle Moments™ Book         
              $9.99 plus $.86 tax  = $10.85

Chicken Soup for the Gardener's Soul book     
              $12.95 plus $1.10 tax = $14.05

Chicken Soup for the Gardener's Soul CD  
              $11.95 plus $1.05 tax = $13.00

Chicken Soup for the Gardener's Soul tape   
              $  9.95 plus $ .85 tax= $10.80


CASH, CHECKS, VISA OR MASTERCARD ACCEPTED. SHIPPING ADD $3.50 FOR FIRST BOOK, $1.75 FOR EACH EXTRA BOOK

Make checks out to: Be the Star You Are!™ non profit
   PO BOX 376
   MORAGA, CA. 94556
   925-376-7126

ORDER FORM:

NAME OF BOOKS/TAPES/CD'S:____________________________________
NUMBER WANTED of each:_______________________________________
AUTOGRAPHED TO WHOM_______________________________________
SHIP TO:____________________CITY_________STATE____ZIP________
BILL TO: VISA____MASTERCARD______ CHECK:____
CREDIT CARD NUMBER____________________________EXP.__________
PHONE NUMBER_________________________

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YOUR FEEDBACK
If you have comments, questions or suggestions for this newsletter, please write to Kim Carlson, your Be the Star You Are!™ newsletter coordinator at: bethestaryouare@hotmail.com

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
It is not now, and has never been, our intention to send this free newsletter to anyone who does not want it. If you received this in error, please respond with "REMOVE" on the subject line. 

If this was forwarded to you, and you want to receive it monthly, reply with "SUBSCRIBE" in the subject line. 

To subscribe to the text-only version of this newsletter, reply with "TEXT-ONLY" in the subject line.

NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
To request previous issues of our newsletter, contact our newsletter coordinator at bethestaryouare@hotmail.com.

FORWARD TO A FRIEND
Forward this to anyone who you think may be interested in its contents.  Keep the special people in your life informed as to what is happening in the world of positive programming!

Visit our web site at http://www.bethestaryouare.org.  Please note, by responding to this email, you do not reach the charity.  To reach Cynthia Brian directly, email her at cynthia@bethestaryouare.org. Thank you.

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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