Teen Kindness Board
Self-motivated and peer-elected teenagers with hearts of gold, ethics of steel and a passion to make a difference, help guide BAFP programming, raise funds and bullying prevention/awareness.
Members of the Teen Kindness Board (which includes some former Friend Mail Recipients) are selected for their self-motivated initiatives and acts-of-kindness, past and present, that have involved our mission, support for victims of bullying and bullying prevention activism.
Many Board Members are former cast members from either the 2015 debut, 2017 professional run or a licensed production of the middle school show "IT'S EASY! The Friend Strong Musical" that inspired the Be A Friend Project, proving that what kids learn through theater, they never forget!
If you're a teen, or a tween about to be one, looking to do more to make a difference in your community or for a bullied peer, read the stats of these Teen Board Members for great ideas to inspire your own!
(Members listed in alphabetical order by ACTIVE and then HONORARY status.)
In Loving Memory
Aidan Duver New York
Founding Teen Board Member
Teen Board Chair, August 2022 - May 2023
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Performed the role of protagonist, JED TRAVIS, in the 2017 Broadway World Award-winning production of "IT'S EASY!"
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Volunteered his time and talent in the recording studio to lay down vocals for the "IT'S EASY!" Licensing Kit's Vocal Reference Track MP3's
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Wrote and illustrated an anti-bullying children's book titled "The Fantastic, Stupendous, Marvelous, Dazzling, Be Yourself, Tree House"(dedicated to the co-founders of the Be A Friend Project!) to show kids that "they can be themselves, be UPstanders and lift each other up" and he gave readings of the book to kindergarten classes.
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2021 Super Ambassador Award
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2021-2022 Volunteer Moderating Team for Quarterly Board national Zooms
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2022 Peer-Elected in August to serve as the 1st Teen Board Chair.
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2022 Narrator of BAFP Sizzle Reel
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2022 "IT'S EASY!" Showcase Performer NGLCC Annual Gala, Washington DC
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2023 Leads Teen Kindness Board to develop his initiative of an annual Be A Friend Walkathon "walking towards a kinder world" scheduled for June 3rd.
Aidan led this Board with calm, caring leadership up until the week before he passed away on May 24th after a courageous 22-month battle with cancer.
Active Members
Iain Armitage California
15 years old/Actor
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Accepted Teen Board invite in November 2020.
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2022 Super Ambassador Award for sending videos of support for every Recipient featured since "Alejandro" in October of 2020.
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Popular child actor known for starring in the hit TV shows "Young Sheldon" and "Big Little Lies," as well as providing the voice for young Shaggy in "Scoob!" and the police puppy Chase in PAW Patrol: The Movie," among many other credits.
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Iain first rose to popularity as a 4-year-old Broadway Theater Critic via his Youtube series Iain Loves Theatre where he reviewed musicals.
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Nominated for several Kids' Choice and Teen Choice Awards and winning a Young Artists Award, Iain is a consistent role model of kindness for peers and regularly activates his celebrity platform to speak up, reach out and support bullied peers and adults globally, including BAFP Friend Mail Recipients, to make a difference.
EllaGrace Clinger Florida
11th Grade
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Bullying prevention activist since elementary school supporting students who were left out or bullied and tried to redirect students who bullied.
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Now in high school, EllaGrace continues to lead with efforts including successfully encouraging over 1,000 students to take a bullying prevention pledge, creating educational and motivational videos, supporting others, and distributing information.
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2021 "stormed" Disneyworld in Orlando with BAFP Gear to talk kindness with kids and give-away 500 Goodie bags with her own crafted BAFP Logo Keychains: https://youtu.be/LHciWYbylyE
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2021-2022 BAFP Season presented the BAFP to multiple peer groups, recruiting friends and family to send record-breaking support to every bullied child featured by the BAFP.
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2022 BAFP Super Ambassador Award
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2022 UNITY AWARD Recipient from the National Bullying Prevention Center
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2022 Peer-Selected in August to join the national BAFP Teen Board.
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Fall 2022 Peer-nominated to "Hope Squad" suicide prevention outreach
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Tutor for "UPchieve" for kids who live in poverty anywhere in the world.
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E-Buddy for individuals with disabilities, ongoing.
Michael Coppola New York
10th Grade
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Lifelong 'Bullying Prevention Activist'
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May 2023 BAFP Friend Mail Recipient
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Brings immense empathy, compassion and insight to the TKB as a survivor of traumatic bullying, both at school and the community.
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Career singer, composer, actor and dancer, Michael reached out in March 2023 to be a part of our "Broadway Kids for Kindness" Benefit to end bullying, and performed 2 songs with the cast.
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Strong voice and role model for bullying prevention and awareness, especially for LGBTQ youths, a population that endures a disproportionate amount of bullying, of which he has experienced firsthand as an out gay and gender-fluid student.
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August 2023 Peer-Selected to join the BAFP Teen Kindness Board.
Kimmie Edge New York
Founding Teen Board Member
Rutgers College, NJ, Class of '26
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Volunteer BAFP Office & Event Assistant helping prepare for and facilitate local letter-writing events, bringing great empathy and insight to the BAFP as a survivor of severe bullying who is now committed to supporting other bullied children and raising anti-bullying awareness.
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Member of the volunteer "Letter Review Crew" since 2019
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2020 Super Ambassador Award
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2020 Excellence in Art Award for her winning entry in the Card Cover Art Contest - virtual letter writers can select Kimmie's card cover when using our Send-A-Virtual-Letter page.
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Accepted the volunteer role of Social Media Teen Ambassador in 2020 to help us post content on the Project's Instagram and Twitter pages.
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2021 Peer Judge for the national "Once Friends" Lip Sync Battle to raise awareness of Social Bullying
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2021-2022 Volunteer Moderating Team for Quarterly Board national Zooms
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2022 Annual Gala and 2023 "Broadway Kids For Kindness" Benefit Speaker on impact of BAFP on her life.
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Currently Kindness Club Coordinator/BAFP Staff
Kylie Hogan New York
Founding Teen Board Member
Lehigh University, PA, Class of '28
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Performed the role of TAYLOR in the 2017 Broadway World Award-winning production of "IT'S EASY!"
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Volunteered her time and talent in the recording studio to lay down vocals for the "IT'S EASY!" Licensing Kit's Vocal Reference Track MP3's
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Consistently since 2017 recruited friends and groups like her Girl Scout troop to write letters of support to Recipients.
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For her International Bacclaureate class project, Kylie asked: how can I have the biggest impact on the growth of the Be A Friend Project? She designed a one-page document that makes it easy for educators to assign a Friend Mail activity, especially when remote learning, by streamlining the process. Her Google Doc is now a model for Ambassadors nationwide to maximize collection of peer support for our Friend Mail Recipients.
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Holds the record of 180 letters for one Recipient raised by an individual Ambassador!
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2021 Peer Judge and Event Coordinator for the national "Once Friends" Lip Sync Battle to raise awareness of Social Bullying
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2021 Super Ambassador Award
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2023 Lead Teen Board Organizer of Be A Friend Walkathon "walking towards a kinder world" personally raising over $6,000 in pledges and sponsorships.
Ethan Katz New York/Ohio
Founding Teen Board Member
Oberlin College, OH, Class of '26
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Performed in the 2015 WORLDWIDE DEBUT production of "IT'S EASY!" in collaboration with the Riverdale "Y" Rising Stars
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ORIGINAL Member of the 2015 youth actor focus group that developed the Be A Friend Project
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First ever to throw a Be A Friend Project party with peers
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2018 Super Ambassador Award as longest-running individual letter writer
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Honored BAFP Co-Founders Young and Akselrad by taking the stage to introduce them as honorees at the 2019 Annual Broadway Gala of the Riverdale Y, NYC.
Brad Lancaster Texas
11th Grade
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2016 - Present - Brad has written anonymous notes to his entire class - encouraging and motivating his peers.
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Since 2018, Brad has sent letters & videos of support to BAFP Friend Mail Recipients.
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2019 Performed the lead protagonist role of JED TRAVIS in the Greenway’s Intermediate Worldwide Debut of a Licensed Production of “IT’S EASY!” in Amarillo, Texas
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2019 - Present - LEAD council member - Nominated by former and present teachers. Was chosen based on leadership gifting ability to be an influencer among his peers.
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2020 - Earned the Rank of Eagle Scout. For his project, Brad made two “Buddy Benches” for a local elementary school.
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2021 National Winner of the BAFP “Once Friends” Lip Sync Battle to Raise Awareness of Social Bullying - Middle School Category
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2022 – Completed National Youth Leadership Training
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2022 Peer-Selected to serve on the BAFP National Teen Board
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2023 Partners the BAFP with local Author to present Kindness presentations
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2023 Leads Teen Kindness Board "Invite Committee"
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2023 appointed at West Plains High Schho to the HOPE Squad, a peer-to-peer suicide prevention program, and SHAC, Student Health Advisory Council, to improve all areas of health, including mental health, for ALL students.
Ryan Lavin NY
8th Grade
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2022 - 2023 participated in the surprise delivery for two Friend Mail Recipients, including his sister Charlotte
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2022 co-founded the community-based StuyTown NYC Kindness Club with his family, helping to gather community support for Friend Mail Recipients monthly.
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2022-present Friend Mail program creator of empathetic letters of peer support for Recipients.
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2023 Peer-selected in August to join Teen Kindness Board.
Monika Piehler New York
9th Grade
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2022 BAFP "IT'S EASY!" Showcase Performer in studio and at Mountaintop Fundraiser in NY and the NGLCC Annual Gala in Washington DC at the National Building Museum.
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2022 - 2023 participated in the surprise delivery for two Friend Mail Recipients.
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Monika became involved under her own initiative in the Friend Mail Program by gathering letters of support from her gymnastics team.
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2023 founded a BAFP Kindness Club at the LaGrange Middle School.
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2023 Peer-Elected in August to join Teen Kindness Board.
Daniel Simpson New Jersey
Founding Teen Board Member
University of Michigan Class of '28
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Performed the role of JASON in the 2017 Broadway World Award-winning production of "IT'S EASY!"
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Chose the Be A Friend Project as his bar mitzvah project raising awareness of bullying and our mission.
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2018 Super Ambassador Award for 2 years+ of sending letters of support to every Recipient
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Founded the UPstanders Club in 2020 at Bergen County Academies to be a safe space for students to talk about their experiences with bullying and raise awareness. The Club's activities include raising funds for the BAFP and creating letters and videos of support for Recipients.
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2021-2022 Volunteer Moderating Team for Quarterly Board national Zooms
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2022 Spearheaded Design and Content of weekly activity calendar for new, national BAFP Kindness Clubs
Sam Wettergreen Virginia
11th Grade
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Performed the lead protagonist role of JED TRAVIS in the 2018 Mariah's Music & Arts' Worldwide Debut of a Licensed Production of "IT'S EASY!" in Stafford, Virginia
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Welcomed Friend Mail Recipient "BAILEY" to the Virginia show by presenting her with a bouquet of flowers (that he purchased himself!) to let her know she had a friend in him!
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Introduced the BAFP to his homeschool group, organizing consistent participation from its students (of all ages), sending dozens of packages with letters of support since 2018.
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2021 SUPER Ambassador Award
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2022 Creates and moderates Teen Board DISCORD Platform.
Brielle Withers New York
Founding Teen Board Member
Boston Conservatory Class of '28
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Performed the lead role of STACEY in the 2017 Broadway World Award-winning production of "IT'S EASY!"
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Volunteered her time and talent in the recording studio to lay down vocals for the "IT'S EASY!" Licensing Kit's Vocal Reference Track MP3's
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In 2018, initiated the now vital role of "On-Air Teen Ambassador/Vlogger" to make it easier for schools across the country to introduce each Friend Mail Recipient via Youtube stories.
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2018 Super Ambassador Award
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Hosts large letter-writing parties for birthdays, clubs and get-togethers
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Led an elementary school-wide assembly to introduce the BAFP
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In 2019, met with her Cornwall Central School District in NY to seek district-wide participation - and succeeded!
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Awarded "Student of Achievement" by NY Assemblyman after being nominated by the CCSD for her BAFP Ambassador work.
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Organized a team of 7 friends turned Super Ambassadors to hold round-table discussions with district administrators and faculty and act as liaisons to individual school buildings to facilitate the distribution of BAFP info and pick-up of letters.
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2021 Peer Judge for the national "Once Friends" Lip Sync Battle to raise awareness of Social Bullying
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2022 "IT'S EASY!" Showcase Performer NGLCC Annual Gala, Washington DC, and 2023 Broadway Kids For Kindness at 54 Below NYC.
Mika Wurf New York
Founding Teen Board Member
Boston Conservatory Class of '28
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Performed the role of FATIMA in the 2017 Broadway World Award-winning production of "IT'S EASY!" and won the region's "Best Supporting Actress in a Musical" Award for her portrayal of the Syrian immigrant student.
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Volunteered her time and talent in the recording studio to lay down vocals for the "IT'S EASY!" Licensing Kit's Vocal Reference Track MP3's
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Since 2017, has consistently inspired groups of friends to write letters of support for victims of bullying, including the No Place For Hate Club when she was in middle school.
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Co-founded her high school's HANDS-IN CLUB, a community service initiative, inspiring consistent participation and dozens of heartfelt letters of support from its members for the BAFP
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2021 SUPER Ambassador Award
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2022 "IT'S EASY!" Showcase Performer NGLCC Annual Gala, Washington and 2023 Broadway Kids For Kindness at 54 Below NYC.
"Alumni" Honorary Members
Adam Cabo New York
Honorary/Founding Board Member
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Participant in 2015 Theater Lab in Garrison, NY, for "IT'S EASY!" between the show's debut and professional productions.
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Performed the role of lead "Bully Boy" (VINNY) in the 2017 Broadway World Award-winning production of "IT'S EASY!"
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Chose the BAFP as his bar mitzvah project raising funds and awareness of bullying and our mission.
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2018 Super Ambassador Award
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Collaborated with his sister, Noga, to compose an emotional and inspiring anti-bullying song "Who Are You?" and gifted it to the Be A Friend Project to inspire donations and amplify his message of support for victims of bullying.
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Created "Who Are You?" song video - featured HERE on Adam's page!
Jaimiaya Davis Virginia
Honorary/Founding Board Member
11th Grade
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2020 Official Ambassador Award
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Since receiving her own surprise delivery of peer support, Jaimiaya has supported every Recipient with her signature combination of original "art with heart" and a generous personalized gift.
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2020 Excellence in Art Award for her winning entry in the Card Cover Art Contest - virtual letter writers can select Jaimiaya's card cover when using our Send-A-Virtual-Letter page.
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2021 SUPER Ambassador Award
Erin Kazmierczak Michigan
Honorary/Founding Board Member
Northwestern University,IL, Class of '28
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Performed the role of GABBY in the 2017 Broadway World Award-winning production of "IT'S EASY!" in Irvington, NY
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Volunteered her time and talent in the recording studio to lay down vocals for the "IT'S EASY!" Licensing Kit's Vocal Reference Track MP3's
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As a Presentation Ambassador, Erin held 4 meetings with the incoming Student Governments at her former elementary school to pitch the BAFP and succesfully recruit them as Ambassadors, collecting dozens of letters for multiple Recipients over years.
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2018 Super Ambassador Award
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Introduced the BAFP to the Interlochen Arts Academy community in Michigan in 2020 where she attends high school, inspiring and sending dozens of heartfelt letters for Recipients - and teaming up with fellow voice students to send amazing song videos of support!
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2021-2022 "TEEN SOCIAL MEDIA AMBASSADOR"
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Registers Offical Be A Friend Kindness Club at Interlochen Arts Academy.
Keely Miyamoto California
Honorary/Founding Board Member
Grinnell College, IA, Class of '26
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Was Co-President of the Eagle Rock High School Anti-Bullying Club in Los Angeles, CA, organizing hundreds of peer letters of support for BAFP Friend Mail Recipients for 2+ years
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The BAFP work of Keely's Anti-Bullying Club led to a 2019 Human Relations and Student Leadership Award for Eagle Rock Jr/Sr High School from the Los Angeles Unified School District
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2019 Super Ambassador Award for the Anti-Bullying Club
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Interviewed by the world's largest Spanish language network UNIVISION about the BAFP and Human Relations Award and quoted as saying, "Even if we are just writing letters to one student, I know that what we are doing is making a difference in that person's life."
Robert Rooney Pennsylvania
Honorary/Founding Board Member
12th Grade
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2017 Friend Mail Recipient - who was a great sport at being surprised with his Friend Mail on stage by the professional cast of "IT'S EASY!" and an after-show "meet & greet"
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Has consistently supported subsequent Recipients with letters and videos of support
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Volunteered to travel and present TWO surprise deliveries of Friend Mail to Recipients in Pennsylvania, Ethan (2018) and Anthony (2019 with TEACH Anti-Bullying).
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2018 Super Ambassador Award
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UPSTANDER ROBERT has appeared on TV News with Dr. Claudio Cerullo of TEACH Anti-Bullying in PA to talk about his ordeal with being bullied.
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Won the debate stage at school advocating for victims of bullying!
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2022 Raised $500 for BAFP through LaSalle College High School "Dress Down" Days.
Peter Samuelson New York
Honorary/Founding Board Member
University of Mississippi, Class of '28
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2020 Super Ambassador Award
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One of a team of 7 friends turned Ambassadors to hold round-table discussions with Cornwall Central School District administrators/teachers and act as liaison to individual school buildings to facilitate the distribution of BAFP info and pick-up of letters
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Tech Volunteer for shooting On-Air Ambassador's videos
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Designing online"Red Bubble" store with merchandise to include products with the BAFP logo to help raise funds and awareness for the BAFP mission.