BIA Telethon Celebrates Community
Photo courtesy of Bridgeport International Academy
“Our telethon entertains people, but it also helps make a difference,” says Unificationist Daniel Kingsley. “The telethon really showcases the incredible diverse student body that represents Bridgeport International Academy while also raising funds for our student scholarships.”
At BIA, Kingsley wears many hats — a PE teacher, online education coordinator, and the lead organizer of the school’s annual telethon. It’s the second year BIA is hosting the virtual fundraiser, an alternative which came about last year during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We had a longstanding tradition of having a drama production and annual auction that was the main fundraiser for our scholarships,” explains Kingsley. But that all changed in the midst of restrictions and lockdowns. So, Kingsley got creative.
“The telethon combines the production and auction while doing everything safely,” he says. “This is a student-driven production, so they are the ones who have made it a reality. They can showcase their skills and talents and artistic abilities, all for a good cause.”
On camera and behind the scenes, some 40 students and staff are preparing for the telethon. Donations to BIA’s scholarship fund helps students in financial need. With rehearsals underway this week, students are perfecting various songs, dances, and short skits for the big night.
The telethon will stream live on April 8 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. EDT through BIA’s Facebook and YouTube pages, and will be shared on the Family Federation USA Facebook page as well. Kingsley says special appearances from BIA’s headmaster and vice headmaster are also lined up.
“This year, we really want to emphasize this is a community event,” he says. “We want everyone that is involved with BIA at some level to participate, including BIA alumni and teachers, who are performing. It’s about promoting and celebrating our community.”
Over the last 25 years, BIA has continually drawn a diverse, co-ed student body, with as much as 45 percent of its students coming from different countries around the world. “What makes BIA special is that we are a global school with people from different cultures and backgrounds,” says Kingsley. “BIA becomes an extension of our families.”
Kingsley says the virtual telethon is a great way for students to connect with their families and friends back home. For Kingsley, a New Jersey native who joined BIA in 2020, teaching and coordinating the telethon has enabled him to share his passion and strengths with his students.
“I love working with people and creating things,” he says. “I have the opportunity to collaborate with people, and students can utilize my creativity and tap into that side ... As an extended community of the Unification movement, this family-oriented sense of community is extremely important to me. I love connecting with people on a deeper level and my job allows me to do that.”
In more ways than one, BIA’s telethon bridges people, experiences and opportunities — while supporting and celebrating its global community.
You can register for an event reminder for BIA’s telethon here, and donate to the scholarship fund here.