https://www.sparkwhyz.org/

Hi, I'm Kiyan Arshadi, from Laguna Beach High School, and one of the student founders of SparkWhyz, a youth-led civic initiative in Laguna Beach.

SparkWhyz began after our community experienced the recent Rancho Fire last summer, which were caused by fireworks. Those events showed us that one small decision can change lives forever. Instead of standing by, we decided to become part of the solution.

Working alongside the Laguna Beach Fire Department and with the support of our schools and community, we launched SparkWhyz to help educate young people about wildfire prevention and responsible choices.

So we launched a community campaign encouraging everyone to take the SparkWhyz Pledge to help keep Laguna Beach safe from preventable wildfires. Working alongside the Laguna Beach Fire Department, we've organized community fireworks turn-in events, giving residents a safe way to surrender illegal fireworks and commit to protecting our city.

More than 300 people have already signed the pledge, and we're just getting started.

Then we took our mission one step further. We wrote a children's book that teaches young students how one small decision can help prevent devastating wildfires. Every donation helps us print books, provide them to local elementary schools, and inspire the next generation to become lifelong fire safety ambassadors.

"The Spark That Saved Laguna Beach" is inspired by true events in our own community and teaches elementary students how one good decision can help prevent a wildfire before it starts.

Our goal is simple:

We want to place this book into the hands of every student at Top of the World Elementary and El Morro Elementary, while also providing copies for classrooms, school libraries, and teachers.

We're also planning classroom visits where our student team will read the book, answer questions, and inspire younger students to become leaders in protecting our community.

Every donation directly supports this mission by helping us:

• Print high-quality children's books

• Donate books to local elementary schools

• Provide classroom reading materials

• Support student author visits and presentations

• Expand SparkWhyz's wildfire prevention education throughout our community

No donation is too small. Every book placed in a child's hands represents another opportunity to prevent a future wildfire.

Wildfires don't begin with forests.

They begin with choices.

We believe that teaching children about responsibility, kindness, and fire safety today can help protect families, homes, wildlife, and first responders tomorrow.

One child who makes a safe decision could make all the difference.

When you donate, you're doing much more than helping print a book.

You're investing in young leaders.

You're helping educate the next generation.

You're helping create a safer community.

Together, we can place this story into every classroom and inspire thousands of children to become the spark that protects.

Thank you for believing in us and in the power of young people to make a difference.

With gratitude,

Kiyan Arshadi

Founding Youth Director

SparkWhyz Foundation

SparkWhyz Foundation is a recognized 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity.  Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.