Marla Higinbotm, the executive director of Kasa Exis County, once told me about a boy who had been in the foster care system for some time. He didn't want anything special. He just wanted a normal first day of school. And he just wanted to walk into his classroom on the first day with a new backpack full of school supplies just like everyone else. 

My name is Caleb Quan. I'm a junior at Montclair Kimberly Academy. For the past few years, I've been running a backpack drive for foster children in Essex County. For a child in foster care, having their own backpack might not seem like a lot, but it can mean walking through the classroom feeling a little less different and having one less thing to worry about on a day that's already so difficult. 

And that's why I started the drive and why it's important for me. It's not just about giving someone a bag full of supplies. It's about giving the child a sense of normalcy when their life already may feel so uncertain. But this idea started way before I actually started this backpack drive. Growing up, my church sent members to Cambodia every summer and our cell group collected supplies. 

I had leftover spares at my home, so I decided to pack them up and send them along. And when the group came back, they shared photos of the children holding them and smiling. And I kept looking at one photo in particular. I had never met this child before, but something that had just been laying in my room had made his day. 

A few years later, I learned that children in the foster system face these same issues in Essex County. So, I decided to start a backpack drive. Mara would later tell me that on the boy's first day of school, he didn't feel different. He had the same backpack as everyone else and the same supplies and for that for him that was the whole point. 

The box of pencils had sat in my room for 2 years before it became anything more. Today backpacks from this drive go to classrooms across Essex County. And I think what this what this work why this work is so meaningful for me is because sometimes what feels like such a small thing can have such a great impact on other people. Thank you. 

Thanks to the generosity of the hall’s owner—who also live-streamed the event—the evening was truly unforgettable. The program featured moving words and performances from Seojin Kim, Esen Edeer (who spoke about her family’s experience fostering eight children), Avantika Laksham (who shared her passion for the CASA mission and wowed us with her beautiful singing), and Jay Ahn, who closed the evening with a powerful message. From the inspiring speeches to the breathtaking musicianship—and even a silent auction during intermission—every detail of the evening reflected the heart and dedication of these remarkable youth. We are deeply grateful to Zoomingthrumusic Inc. for using their voices, their talent, and their passion to make a difference for children in foster care.  - Lucy Rosen (Executive Director)

Hello everybody. My name is Esen Edeer. I'm one of the co-presidents of Zooming through Music and I'm going to make a little speech for you guys. So throughout nine years, my family and I fostered a total of seven children. I was skeptical at first. I remember fighting with them over who was going to go on the home computer. And I didn't know how I felt as a child watching the other children that I haven't seen before take over my home. However, as time went on, I realized that there were things that I took for granted. Before fostering, I believed that I didn't need anyone besides my parents and myself. But I realized that these children were constantly looking for a source of comfort in an unfamiliar place. After seeing that, I learned the joy of sharing and playing multiplayer games together. I would help them with school work. And by doing so, I got to know them on a closer level and connect with them. As I live with each of these seven individuals, I learned how to share and adapt. And I also learned how much even small things can do to positively impact someone's day.

Because of my experience of witnessing youth in foster care firsthand, I feel that this concert and CASA have a special place in my heart. We need to advocate for these youth and youth in foster care so that they get the care and support that they need. I saw firsthand the powerful impact just a few individuals can do.

Hi, my name is Avantika Lakshman. Um, I'm the treasurer of Zooming Music and I prepared a little speech about my experience with CASA before because I work with CASA. So, when I first joined Zooming Thru Music, I was fresh out of quarantine, a young fifth grader with no idea what kind of organization I was becoming a part of. After years of sharing music and taking an active role in giving back to the community as the treasurer of the music, I think I can finally realize the most important thing it has offered me. Exposure. Exposure to live performances, exposure to other musicians my age and most of all exposure to beautiful causes. After completing my adram or a graduation from the classical India dance style badam which I performed for a small group of close friends and loved ones only a hall full of about 450 people. I received a decent amount in gift money from relatives. Even before this performance I knew whatever money I received I wanted to donate to a good cause. And when Zooming Thru Music created our connection to CASA I immediately checked out their website and quickly became an avid supporter of mission. I knew there was no better place for the money to go. Thank you to Lisa from the Essex branch for kindly inviting me into her office and introducing me to their project. Walking through hallways of these kids artwork and learning about the experiences that CASA was able to offer them, I knew it would become a cause very dear to me. I'm beyond excited to work with CASA again in the future alongside.

Congratulations to all the student leaders who made this possible. When you do something like this, it sends a powerful message to me and our entire community, that there is hope for the future of our town, our state, and our country. (Chris Vergano, Mayor of Wayne Township, NJ)

Hi, my name is Nikki. I'm the director of central recreation for Spectrum for Living. This is our second time that Zooming Through Music has come and volunteered their time with their students who are absolutely amazing. They take care of all of our clients. They've individually walk around with them. They show them how to do the games. Our clients love them and can't wait for them to come every time. So, we appreciate them and we love everything that they do. Thank you.

This is fantastic. They are four or five high schools that come together zooming thru music. Fantastic organization teamed with the ToyQuest brought all these toys here and you can see as the people going by kids right now getting toys up their day. We’re so thrilled to have organizations like these that come and are able to support especially the children. We serve hundreds of thousands of patients in northern New Jersey. These toys are going to St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital patients and we’re very thankful.