From a Quiet Voice to a Standing Ovation: Meet the Girl Who Captured Every Heart in the Room
Her voice moved a room to tears. Your support makes moments like this possible.
Briza pictured with her mother, sister, and members of our Champion of Girls sponsor, Hartford Hospital, who eagerly waited to meet her and offer their support in helping her reach her dream of becoming a nurse and phlebotomist.
When Briza walked onstage at this year’s Dashaway Luncheon, she didn’t open with statistics or a slogan. She opened an envelope. Inside was a letter—written not to the audience, but to the next young girl who will walk through the doors of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford.
“Dear Young Girl,” she began, her voice steady but soft, “you might be walking through those doors for the very first time—unsure, quiet, wondering if you’ll fit in. You might be carrying worries no one else can see. I know that feeling—because I was you.”
The ballroom grew completely still. What followed was less a speech than a love letter—to belonging, to mentorship, to the kind of everyday compassion that changes the direction of a life. Briza shared how the Club became her second home: the warmth of Ms. Lulu’s smile on her first day, Ms. Brenda’s wisdom—“don’t shrink yourself to make other people comfortable”—and Coach RJ’s belief in her before she believed in herself. “The Club wraps you in love before you even realize you needed it,” she said, smiling through tears.
Her story was also a tribute to her mother, who came to this country with nothing but determination and a dream she set aside so her daughters could have more. “She wanted to become a nurse,” Briza said. “So when I say I will become a nurse, it’s not just for me—it’s for her.” Her goal now is to study at UConn, become a registered nurse, and one day open a clinic that provides affordable, compassionate care for families who need it most.
By the time she folded the letter and sealed it again, the entire room was on its feet. Briza closed with words that still echo: “You belong here. You are seen here. You are loved here. Great futures start with her—but they begin because of you.”
Briza’s courage captured the heart of what our Clubs do every day. With guidance from caring mentors, girls discover their voices, their confidence, and the power to shape their futures. Programs like SMART Girls make moments like this possible—but only because of the community members who choose to believe, give, and lead with love.
Because of you, another girl will walk through our doors, feel that same warmth, and begin her own story of transformation. Help us keep that promise alive.
Great futures start with her—with love.
Give Today →
https://cbo.io/app/public/bidapp/25dashaway/donate
