BE THE STAR YOU ARE INC

OVERVIEW

The prevalence of violence in the media and its potential harm to everyone 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 women, families, and youth we provide access to positive and productive information and role models through books and our first class good news radio program. We help individuals discover their passion, learn life skills, gain effective conflict management skills, and build self-esteem through increased literacy and positive programs





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 10 million web sites exist on the Internet dedicated 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.





Individuals 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 risky behavior.





MISSION

Be the Star You Are! is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation empowering women, families and youth through improved literacy and positive media. Be the Star You Are! collects and distributes books and other resources 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.

As of April 2013, Be the Star You Are! has served approximately 319,800 individuals and families within 82 organizations and has logged more than 400,000 volunteer hours, while distributing over $1.7 million in resources. Be the Star You Are! was nominated for the California Governor’s and First Lady’s Service Awards and touted with five star ratings as a top rated non profit by GuideStar and Great Non Profits in the Women’s Empowerment Campaign. Be the Star You Are! radio program broadcasts to 4.5 million listeners in 219 countries. More than 2000 authors, experts, and professionals have been interviewed on our show. Our teen show, Express Yourself!™ boasts all teen hosts and reporters from around the USA and is #1 on the Voice America Kids Network. Volunteers herald from all over the world performing duties virtually. BTSYA trains teens to be writers and reporters and gets them published. Over 1000 books have been read and reviewed by our Star Teen Book Review Team and published by publishers, The Reading Tub, and on our web site at www.BTSYA.com.
NATIONAL OUTREACH SUCCESS STORIES
1. Operation Ground Hero¬–With the attacks on America on September 11, 2001, Be the Star You Are! was one of the first charities to offer support and resources to the victims. Several hundred local volunteers as well as volunteers around the country helped us ship over 50 pallets of uplifting materials valued at over $57,000.
2. Operation Hurricane Relief–After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, Be the Star You Are! partnered with volunteers in the South to deliver $27,000 worth of books and resources to libraries, schools, groups, and shelters.
3. Operation Fire Relief–Only four years after the devastating Cedar Fires, Southern California experienced over a dozen wildfires raging for two months from October to December of 2007. With thousands of families left homeless, Be the Star You Are! worked with relief agencies to deliver over $10,000 of books and holiday gifts to children.
4. Operation Tornado Disaster Relief-in 2011 a devastating tornado swept through the Midwest. The city of Joplin, Missouri was hard hit, destroying 262 classrooms and 16 schools. Be the Star You Are!® shipped $48,000 worth of brand new books for ages k-12 plus additional resources for parents to the Joplin schools. In addition, Access Family Care medical facilities in Neosho, Missouri were shipped books for newborns to the elderly.
5. Operation Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief
Approximately $20,000 in resources were shipped to the East Coast and distributed through our partner, Angels Clothing Closet in New Jersey.