ORIGIN STORY
IT ALL BEGAN ONE GLORIOUS AND ADVENTUROUS NIGHT. Okay… I might be overstating to say it happened in one night… Okay, okay... so it didn’t happen over night at all, it was like a mini lifetime. Hi! My name is Rachel Renee Peckham, formerly Rachel Johnson, one of the original Become One VOICE, Inc. founders and board members, alongside Morgan and Zion Johnson.
Become One VOICE, Inc. has gone through what seems like many lifetimes, a metamorphasis and possibly a rewrite. Regardless the scope of our change and growth, Become One VOICE, Inc. has stayed true to our mission to empower youth and young adults to use their passions, talents, and skills to make a difference in the local and global community. I am eager and honored to share our origin story with you and we look forward to seeing you at our next event. (scroll down for our origin)
-Rachel Renee Peckham (2019)
First and foremost, welcome to Become One Voice, host of the Conex’s exponential events, hailing from Tracy, California with chapters now in the South Bay (Santa Clara and East Bay (Dublin). What is Become One Voice, you might wonder? It is a group formed solely of kids and young adults just wanting to do something good, productive and selfless in our community. We believed we could use our talents and passion from Art and Pop Culture to people and animals, to create and fundraise for the many local and national charities, some you might already be familiar with. Our charitable endeavors began when we wer 11, 9 and 6 years old. My sister, brother and I enjoyed our first fundraising event, the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. With our hearts longing to do more we decided that if we had fun while making a difference, there really was no better way to spend our time.
So with excitement and support we took on the world, well the local community at least, and we formed an entirely kid led and run team. It became our mission to show the whole community WE COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Our first independant group effort was as a team of Bay Area kids fundraising under the name Kidz-4A-Kauze (the misspelling intentional as kids like that sort of stuff) and was for the American Cancer Society’s Union City, Relay For Life. We raised thousands of dollars through cash and in-kind conrtibutions which inspired other teams to form and also contribute in a greater way. Our efforts gained media attention and thus our ORIGIN STORY took form.
Since 2006 a few things have changed. The most notable change is that we founders, are no longer kids. As young adults we felt Kidz-4A-Kauze was no longer a relevent name being we were no longer “kids." So we officially changed the name to Become One Voice. We opened a small store at a local mall and hosted our first Comic-Con in 2014. The large scale event was inspired by Zion, 14 at the time, who himself was inspired by the story of Miles Scott a.k.a. “Batkid.” Miles’ wish was so genuine and special that his single wish drove an entire city and surrounding areas. The one event created an endless ripple effect.
We made many friends in the comic con, reptile expo and other trade show related communities which gave us vital resources we needed. Fortunate many well known leaders in their respective industries were eager to help. It took alot of time and energy, but we did it! We held the 2014 and 2015 Tracy Comic Show in a mall. We grew to the point the mall would not work and so the 2016 and 2017 Tracy Comic Show and Tracy Reptile Expo was held in a much larger outlet center which we also outgrew. From there we moved the combination event to our current location, the Alameda County Fairgrounds, where CONEX has been since 2018.
All the while, we worked steadily towards an official non-profit status which we finally received in winter of 2017.
As a whole, an ever growing team, we have learned so much from each other. We pushed passed limitations, proved plenty of people wrong, and went out and made a difference. We could not be more proud of our team, our ever-supportive community, our family, our friends, and each other. The whole trip has been an adventure and we are blessed beyond measure to touch the lives of so many in such a rewarding way.
Organizations we have funded through both in-kind and financial contributions include: American Cancer Society, United Way, Wounded Warriors, Make-A-Wish, Walk to End Alzheimers, George Mark Childrens House, St. Judes Childrens Hospital, UCSF Benioff, California Turtle and Tortoise Club, North Bay Herpetological Society, Cali_Fid Rescue, Happy Critters and JnW Reptile Rescues, Sonoma County Reptile Rescue, Classroom Safari, and Saving Wildlife International. We have partnered with VET TIX and 1ST TIX because we love and support our military, veterans, and our invaluable first responders. This year in 2020, we decided to start doing student grants and scholarships. We are proud to announce that we have provided 6 grants and to date have provided 15 scholarships. If you do not win this year, there is always next year.
None of this would be possible without the love and support of all of you out there. THANK YOU!
Your Team at Become One VOICE
One voice alone rarely changed a thing. We stand together, a collection of voices to slowly but surely change the world. Together as One VOICE (Voices Of Individuals Change Everything) we will make a difference.
OUR MISSION IS NOT OVER
STAY CURRENT ON BOV HAPPENINGS ON THE BOOK OF FACE, I.E., FACEBOOK , THE ORIGINAL “IG” A.K.A. INSTAGRAM, AND TWITTER FOR TWEET; AND AS ALWAYS THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT.