December’s Friend Mail Recipient is a familiar and beloved friend. Zachery was February's Recipient, the 10-year-old baseball player who lived in Buffalo, New York, and switched schools to survive his bullies. In March this year, Zachery received over 1,200 letters & videos of peer support, and lots of thoughtful gifts, too - including 1,000 Pokemon Cards (his other passion!) Zachery immediately began paying the kindness forward, sending sincere videos of support to new recipients.
(Scroll below to watch Zachery's heartwarming thank-you video and read his original story of surviving bullying.)
We are devastated to share that life changed forever for Zachery in October. He lost his home, his baseball gear and all his Friend Mail in a house fire caused by electrical wiring. But all those things can be replaced. Zachery and his brothers, Kyle (12) and Junior (8), also tragically lost their mom.
New pictures:
Zachery’s father has already moved the family from New York to northwest Texas where relatives opened their homes to help them get back on their feet.
Ambassadors, we want Zachery to know the Be A Friend Project is still his Friend Strong family! Join us in replacing his Friend Mail and filling it with new compassion and sympathy.
While Zachery and his siblings are getting used to being the "new kids" at school, letters from past friends like us are important. We’ll also be printing any pictures we have of Zachery’s 1st Friend Mail delivery to include.
Zachery said his Friend Mail would be “making him happy for the rest of his life,” so let’s do our best to build it back with a new delivery. It’s not just mail... it’s peer support, friendship, hope, compassion and empathy. We can make a difference, together.
The due date for Zachery’s replacement batch of Friend Mail is January 10th.
WATCH ZACHERY'S NEW STORY VIDEO by On-Air Teen Vlogger, Brielle Diaz Withers, and her special guest Vlogger, Chloe Hogan:
FOR A DOWNLOADABLE, PRINTABLE PDF OF ZACHERY'S STORY TO HAND-OUT, PIN UP OR SHARE...
ZACHERY'S NEW BATCH OF "FRIEND MAIL" IS DUE JANUARY 10TH, 2025!
Scroll to bottom of Zachery's story page for mailing details and a link to send an instant virtual letter of support, or visit our Friend Mail Program page!
First Batch of Peer Support Delivered in March 2024!
❤️ MARCH UPDATE:
"Thank you for all of this. It means a lot to me. This will be making me happy for the rest of my life." ~ Zachery
YOUR 'FRIEND MAIL' WAS DELIVERED TO ZACHERY IN MARCH 2024! "Change one life and you can change the world" - speak up, reach out and be a friend! Kindness is the true superpower!
Click on the picture below to view Zachery's HEART-MELTING thank-you video! The 10-year-old baseball player has ALREADY been sending his own empathetic words of support to new Friend Mail recipients!
~ Zachery's Story ~
"Compassionate" 10-year-old baseball player survives life-changing bullying by leaving school district.
Zachery's dad says his 5th Grade son is "compassionate, friendly and sensitive" and "the most resilient kid he's ever met" having survived multiple verbal and physical attacks from bullies at school.
10-year-old Zachery is overall a well-liked boy who loves Pokemon and is most passionate about playing baseball and his favorite team, the New York Yankees. So, when he was suddenly and then relentlessly targeted by bullies starting in the 4th Grade, he was stunned - and very upset. His main bully began by targeting Zachery's appearance, particularly his blonde eyebrows. Zachery doesn't like to talk about it, and he also receives speech therapy two times a week, but still he found the courage to speak up with his dad by his side to a 7 ABC WKBW local news reporter in Buffalo, New York.
We all know that bullying happens where adults are not, and in Zachery's case, he felt strongly that his teachers did not believe him when he reported the bullying. Zachery told the news reporter, “It's super hard because he (the bully), he's literally always trying -- comes over and tried and always beat me up."
Zachery works hard to be his best self! 💕
Zachery's dad says a student bullied his son multiple times, including trying to steal his cell phone, breaking his iPad charger, making a racist remark, and demanding Zachery's lunch ... and then "the final straw came when he got pushed in gym class. My son says he jumped on his back." After the local news story came out, cyber-bullying started; false and cruel comments were posted on the news' Youtube story.
A positive outcome of the news story was an invitation to tour and ultimately attend a private school. Last fall at just 9-years-old, Zachery left behind the school district where he did not feel safe, and which is also facing a lawsuit from the family of a 12-year-old boy who died by suicide last May. The family claims he faced relentless bullying.
His dad credits Zachery's travel baseball team and his passion for practicing the sport for "keeping him going" despite some depression caused by the purposeful cruelty. Zachery continues to show his kindness and compassion to his peers when they need it, like in this picture (below) snapped by a baseball team dad whose son was being consoled by Zachery after struggling in the game.
Watch a YOUTUBE OF ZACHERY'S STORY by our On-Air Teen Ambassador, Brielle Diaz Withers!
Zachery's dad feels now that "the rain is over and the rainbow is coming out." Zachery is talking positively about his new school. It is the perfect time for his 10-year-old to receive inspirational and affirming letters of peer support to help him stay strong and continue to heal from life-changing bullying.
AMBASSADORS, LET'S SHOW ZACHERY JUST HOW MANY FRIENDS HE HAS! JOIN WITH THE BAFP TO STAND UP FOR ZACHERY, AND LET HIM KNOW HE MATTERS!
EVERY LETTER IS A GIFT!
THE MORE SUPPORT, THE GREATER THE IMPACT!
"CHANGE ONE LIFE AND YOU CAN CHANGE THE WORLD. IT'S IN YOUR HANDS!"
Friend Mail must arrive in our NY office for review by the Due Date to be included in the main surprise delivery!
Mail "PHYSICAL" letters to:
Be A Friend Project
P.O. Box 30
Beacon, NY 12508
Email letters, videos, scans & Google Drive links, send to:
-OR-
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