Oprah’s Angel Network

Thirty young people in Roosevelt, New York are helping to transform the world. As members of their school’s O Ambassadors Club, this group of 2nd through 6th graders is making great strides to raise awareness about issues in East Africa. And people are listening—from their classmates to their Congresswoman.

A Special Visit from Washington D.C.

Rep. McCarthy made a visit to Ulysses Byas Elementary School after receiving a letter from the O Ambassadors Club that explained all that they were learning in the program.

Club members read up on the health issues that face people living in East Africa. Each O Ambassadors Club receives learning materials for both students and educators.

Club members show off the personalized hats they sold during the holidays to raise money for East Africa.

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Inspired by what they were learning through the Club, the members decided to start a letter-writing campaign, to share their knowledge with the governor, senators and representatives of New York. In just a matter of weeks, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy’s office responded with a simple reply—Rep. McCarthy wanted to know when she could visit the school.

On March 18, Rep. McCarthy attended an assembly at the school, where Club members spoke about the UN Millennium Development goals, the basis of the curriculum for the O Ambassadors program. Club members also presented Rep. McCarthy with the O Ambassadors’ “Transformer of the Universe” Award, honoring the Congresswoman’s efforts to help finance educational initiatives.

Marnie Hazelton, one of the educators who leads the Club at Ulysses Byas, shared “Congresswoman McCarthy spoke about how moved she was at how well we articulated our concerns and that she was happy that we were helping people halfway around the world. She also spoke of the need to have equity in education and health around the world. She said she was going to go back to Congress and discuss our assembly on the House floor.”

Local Councilwoman Dorothy L. Goosby also made a special surprise visit to the assembly, where she presented the O Ambassadors with a certificate of recognition from the entire Town of Hempstead council board in appreciation of the Club’s work.

To have 2 elected officials personally take time out of their busy schedules to acknowledge our hard work as O Ambassadors will leave a positive lasting impression on our students and motivate them to stay on their humanitarian path.” —Marnie Hazelton, educator

Ms. Hazelton shared “This was a monumental day for the O Ambassadors. To see the efforts of our letter-writing campaign come to fruition is amazing. To have 2 elected officials personally take time out of their busy schedules to acknowledge our hard work as O Ambassadors will leave a positive lasting impression on our students and motivate them to stay on their humanitarian path.”

Giving What They Can

The O Ambassadors at Ulysses Byas are clearly doing their part to raise awareness—and the whole school is doing its part to raise money for East Africa. By selling personalized hats and stockings to their classmates during the holidays, the Club raised over $500 in their first 3 weeks of activity—and the Club isn’t short on ideas to raise funds. They’ve taken advantage of Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s’ Day and Easter to have themed fundraisers, and each week during lunch, the Club passes a big jar around the cafeteria to collect change from students and staff.

Set Up for Success

Ms. Hazelton notes, “Our Club consists of 30 members, but the entire school population of 400 plus has gotten on board … The O Ambassadors program has added a refreshing component to our school.”

Before forming an O Ambassadors Club at their school during the fall of 2007, the students at Ulysses Byas were already working to transform the universe. In January of 2007, in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the then 2nd grade students led an assembly to raise awareness and funds to end the conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan. In just 2 days, the students raised over $1,000.

What drives the students at Ulysses Byas to be so successful? According to Ms. Hazelton, the school’s mission statement plays an important role:

… to provide interactive, motivational, and culturally enriching skills that cultivate students to reach their highest possibilities by exceeding the standards; therefore empowering them to contribute to the transformation of the universe.

The mission statement helps everyone at the school stay focused on the bigger world picture, and makes both students and teachers feel confident that they can make real change in the world.