BIA Telethon Raises Sizable Scholarship Funds

Bridgeport International Academy’s (BIA) annual telethon fundraiser raised thousands of dollars toward student scholarships on April 8. The virtual event, which raised more than $4,000 of its $7,000 goal, showcased a great pool of talent from students, staff and alumni, all for a good cause.

“At this school we have an incredibly rich, culturally diverse environment that focuses on the development of our students’ characters,” said BIA Vice Headmaster, Emily Kise. “We pride ourselves not only in our academics but in investing in what it truly means to be a global citizen.”

BIA, which was founded in 1997 by True Parents, provides exceptional education where students learn respect, character development, integrity, and citizenship. The school’s telethon is BIA’s primary source aiding students with financial need and has combined BIA’s annual drama production and auction event into one virtual program during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We have people literally all across the world who watched this broadcast,” said telethon organizer and BIA teacher, Daniel Kingsley. “It’s an honor and privilege to have them join us for the telethon.”

RELATED: BIA Telethon Celebrates Community

Streamed live on social media, the telethon featured a wide range of performances and skits. From piano and flute solos, to a jazz duet, teacher monologues, merengue dance, and music videos, there was no shortage of entertainment throughout the night. Student emcees rotated introductions as the audience enjoyed all the original content while donations poured into BIA’s scholarship fund.

For every thousand dollars that was raised, students participated in different challenges. Once the telethon reached $1,000 in donations, two students ate a plate of lemon wedges. At the $2,000 mark, two more students partook in a mystery drink challenge that included pickle juice, coconut milk and apple cider vinegar. And once the telethon reached $3,000 in donations, another two students took pies to the faces. 

“The pie went in my nose, I’m going to get them back!” exclaimed one student jokingly.

All in good fun, the student-run telethon brought to life the creative vision of some 40 students, staff and alumni who worked hard for several weeks leading up to the event. A photo montage captured classroom projects, group games, and the great teamwork of all the participants. A few students were also recognized with awards throughout the program for their exemplary work at BIA. 

As the fundraiser topped $4,000, two more students participated in a “mystery box” challenge where they each tried to identify an unseen object enclosed in a box — a pineapple and a piece of octopus. “We’ve had some extremely generous donations and are very grateful,” said one of the student emcees.

The event concluded with a heartfelt message from BIA Headmaster, Dr. Frank LaGrotteria. “I laughed, I cried, and I wrote notes on all the interesting things I saw,” he said. “This production was so well done and I applaud everyone who was involved. We saw beautiful art, listened to lovely music and poetry, and watched some incredible dances ... It was just a glorious night with harmony, beauty, and cooperation, which is really the hallmark of what happens at BIA.”

You can donate to BIA’s scholarship fund here.

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