About Us
In the Beginning
Second Star to the Right was originally founded in January of 2010 by Briana Schechter and her sister Rachelle Griffith to raise funds for pediatric cancer research and for local families battling pediatric cancer. Rachelle’s daughter, Kayla Blair, was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer known as AT/RT at the tender age of 21 months old and was treated at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Sadly, she lost her battle but gained her angel wings on January 10, 2009. Watching Kayla fight so hard against this devastating disease gave Rachelle, Briana, and other members of their family the strength to continue fighting for other helpless children like Kayla. Though Kayla lost her battle at only 27 months old, her family felt an overwhelming obligation to fight back against childhood cancer in every way possible. Therefore, this organization was set up to not only raise funds for research, but to also assist local and regional families on emotional and financial levels.
Expansion
On January 16, 2011, heaven welcomed another Bakersfield angel by the name of Ylaria Carrasco-Cazares. She was treated for neuroblastoma at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City as well as at Fletcher Allen Children’s Hospital in Burlington, Vermont. Ylaria was one of the first grant recipients of Second Star. The money was used for travel to the east coast hospitals and for medical expenses. Her mother, Belen Carrasco was also determined to help local families battling childhood cancer. She worked with our local Comprehensive Blood and Cancer Center to establish a home visit program for children who were back home from treatment as well as brought together a coalition of local organizations dedicated to helping children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases. In July of 2011, Briana Schechter and Belen Carrasco sat down to collaborate and join efforts. Now, in addition to being a fund raising organization, Second Star to the Right has expanded to include a volunteer division, which will help local families on a very personal level.
Our NameWhen Briana Schechter and her sister Rachelle Griffith originally sat down to think of names for the organization, they were completely baffled by the concept. Because their ultimate goal was to provide assistance to numerous families stricken by childhood cancer, they were immediately able to rule out personal titles such as the “Kayla Blair Memorial Fund.” They wanted something that was both personally meaningful, and yet relative and relevant to many. Kayla Blair had a love for Tinker Bell and Briana, her auntie, would sing her the song “Second Star to the Right” from Peter Pan and Peter Pan Return to Neverland to calm her. Here are the beautiful lyrics:
The second star to the right
Shines in the night for you
To tell you that the dreams you plan
Really can come true
The second star to the right
Shines with a light that's rare
And if it's Never Land you need
It's light will lead you there
Twinkle, twinkle little star
So I'll know where you are
Gleaming in the skies above
Lead me to the one who loves me
And when you bring him my way
Each time we say "Goodnight"
We'll thank the little star that shines
The second from the right
Our LogoInterestingly enough, Ylaria’s mom Belen also wanted an image design that featured characteristics of Ylaria’s likeness, but that spoke to the “everychild” of childhood cancer. The logo, designed by Anton Jacobs of Orange County, California, features Ylaria’s actual side profile from a photo where she was hugging her mommy tightly. She has a slight smile on her face, which exudes her unending happiness throughout difficult and often painful circumstances. Her baldness is beautiful and she wears a gold ribbon in honor of childhood cancer awareness. Our hope for this logo design is that people will see the realities of childhood cancer without missing the strength and joy that these children encompass.
