Evangeline Pabalan (NJ) High School Recipient - PHILANTHROPIC

As the final chord rang out, the auditorium fell silent. Not the kind of silence that comes from disinterest, but the kind of silence that lingers with a deep sense of connection and reflection. Then, in a wave, the room erupted with applause. As I looked out at the audience gathered for our very first Chords for Change fundraiser, I saw faces lit with emotion. There was something deeper occurring here than just appreciation of the talent and music we shared that night. We had, in fact, created a shared experience - a moment that transcended entertainment. It was an evening that became a voice for those in need.

That night, we were not just performing; we were raising funds for the Sparta Food Pantry, shining a light on the issue of food insecurity. Our guest speaker, Valerie Macchio, shared her powerful story about how her organization came to be. She shared that despite the community’s reputation for higher average incomes; there were still many individuals struggling to meet their basic needs. In recognition of this struggle, nobody is ever turned away from the Sparta Food Pantry - even those from neighboring towns. As she spoke, I noticed the audience leaning in, moved by her words. When a woman from the audience approached me afterward, tears in her eyes, and said, “I needed this tonight,” I was struck by the realization that we were doing far more than just putting on a concert. We were bringing a community together, transforming the night into a shared experience that became a call to action for everyone in the room. It was a powerful reminder that we all have the ability to give visibility to important causes and people in need, creating a lasting impact that extends far beyond the stage. It was in times like these that I was reminded why I founded Chords for Change; to harness the power of music as a force for good and advocate for the less fortunate.

Chords for Change is a student-run nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering young artists to make a difference; every fundraiser, every performance, and every song that we sing is a part of a greater goal to serve and fund communities and resources in need. In addition to carrying out this mission of service, one of the greatest honors of leading this organization is witnessing the emergence of future leaders and philanthropists through our events. The simple question of “when will we be doing this again?” from our performers fills me with hope and gratitude, knowing that our collaborative work is inspiring youth to continue making a difference in their communities and even lead initiatives of their own. 

It is my deepest hope to continue to bring the same level of impact that we were able to achieve that day into all my future endeavors, both in the classroom and in my communities - helping others in every way that I can and using my talents and passion to create positive change wherever I go.