The Be a Friend Project: The Gift That Keeps on Giving

By Daniel Simpson

A performer for over 12 years, it was in 2017, at the age of 12, that I finally decided to take my theatre work more seriously and work professionally. I heard that the website “Backstage” was a great resource for finding acting jobs, and my parents supported me by paying for an annual subscription. The first job I found was for a new musical: a professional run of It’s Easy: The Friend Strong Musical. I thought it would be fun to be in a kid-filled cast, and I resonated with the anti-bullying message. I submitted audition videos and, to my surprise, was asked to come in for an audition.

With no prior “real” audition experience, I was coming into this audition as a newbie. I was greeted by the producer, Jennifer Young, who shook my hand and guided me to the audition room. Honestly, I do not remember how I felt after the audition; likely that me getting a role was a long shot. But a few days later, I was shocked to be offered the role of Jason. What a gift! I worked with an amazing cast and creative team for the next few months and loved performing in 10 shows, more shows than I have ever done for any other production. Seven years later, I still recall many of the songs and dances.

At the end of one show, we surprised Robert, a young victim of bullying, with thousands of peer support letters. I learned that Jennifer started the Be A Friend Project and that these letters were part of the organization’s signature “Friend Mail” program. It blew my mind how something so simple as writing a letter could change someone’s life. Being teased myself growing up, I knew that I could empathize with the recipients and “be a friend” by writing letters.

I found myself writing letter after letter and watching videos of the recipients receiving and opening the letters made my day. I became more immersed in the Be A Friend Project when I participated in its Lip-Sync contest. I won, though looking back, I am quite embarrassed by the video I submitted. Once again, I was given awards, from Bluetooth headphones to bath bombs. When I got my “Super Ambassador” certificate in the mail, I was confused. Why was I being rewarded for my simple tasks? But that’s what the Be A Friend Project does. It not only supports victims of bullying but supports “Upstanders,” people who are standing up for what is wrong, performing good deeds, and spreading kindness.

This certificate was motivation for me to continue writing letters. In my COVID quarantine, I decided to take a new step in spreading this important message. Everyone at my high school was bored at home, so why not be productive with our time? I started the Upstanders Club virtually, where I would announce the Friend Mail recipients. I continued this club in person the following year and found that members were coming up with new initiatives such as creating videos for the recipients. I felt the same proud feeling when the Upstanders Club was rewarded with a Super Ambassador certificate.

My next involvement with the Be A Friend Project was being invited to be a founding member of the National Kindness-In-Action Teen Board. This board includes some of my former cast members. We met quarterly on Zoom to help grow the Be A Friend Project. I grew to love this group and I volunteered to moderate meetings and develop agendas. We share our successes in spreading kindness and come up with ideas for growing the organization such as marketing merchandise and creating fundraising events. One of my personal successes was creating an activity calendar for registered Be A Friend Project Kindness Clubs. My weekly activities ranged from improv games to a t-shirt design contest. I got to see my fellow Board members at a Mountaintop Celebration for the Be A Friend Project; this was at the home of Mark Bertolini, CEO of Bridgewater Associates.

Jennifer has always been so gracious as she wrote me a college recommendation; I am inspired by her kindness every day. I remembered her saying she would love to hire someone one day to do marketing. As someone interested in a marketing career, I texted her to see if she was still seeking this position. She happily accepted my proposal and soon after I was hired as Media Coordinator. One of my first tasks was to create another calendar: this time, an annual Social Media Calendar, where I came up with three posts a week. I also edit videos that are used to spread the anti-bullying message and enhance the project’s social media presence. Though this is a remote job, I decided to visit the Be A Friend Project office during my college break to help wrap holiday gifts for all of our Friend Mail recipients. Seeing Jennifer, her cute dog Oliver, and other staff members again was heartwarming. My colleague and friend, Kimmie, taught me how to properly wrap a gift!

Going into 2024, I am determined to continue to grow the Be A Friend Project. I took the initiative to make a “Marketing Strategies” list ranging from contacting middle schools to forming influencer and corporate partnerships.

This organization is something special. I believe our future is very bright and we will have hundreds of thousands of letter-writers and social media followers. Though the Be A Friend Project has given me friends and many physical gifts, the greatest gift of all is making a person’s life better.

About the Author

Daniel Simpson (he/him) is from Park Ridge, NJ, a small town outside of New York City. He is a first-year student at the University of Michigan pursuing a dual degree in Business Administration and Theatre Arts. Go blue!

Daniel was bitten by the theatre bug at the age of seven and has been a performer ever since. When Daniel was in middle school, he performed in a professional new musical called It’s Easy: The Friend Strong Musical, where he was introduced to the Be A Friend Project (BAFP). Daniel started an anti-bullying club at his high school, and now works for the BAFP as a Media Coordinator and a National Teen Kindness Board member.

In addition to performing and spreading the anti-bullying message, Daniel enjoys marketing, coffee, cooking, working out, and going on adventures with friends.