5 minute read
Emerson Guerra: Baker & Change Maker
It was a blessing that Emerson Guerra lost her run for student council in the fourth grade. Back then, this tenacious 9 year-old, who had her heart set on making a difference, did not let that setback stop her. Instead, with some inspiration from her mom, Tara, and about a month of brainstorming, she came up with the idea for a fundraiser called Tuesday Treats.” Her mom, who loved to bake, was the inspiration for the idea to sell homemade Bundt cakes.
You may remember Emerson and Tuesday Treats from the April 2020 issue of the Georgetown View. Entitled “A Taste of Georgetown’s Future – Faces of 2040,” the story celebrated “amazing young spirits we believe are most likely to make the cover of our magazine in 2040.” The story chronicled Emerson's journey to success that began by enlisting the help of her family every Sunday to bake and then choosing a charity to support each month with the proceeds.
Today, Emerson, a sophomore at Georgetown High School, says the enjoyment of her activities helps motivate her and ward off stress. She is a member of the tennis team, varsity orchestra (she plays the viola), the orchestra council, and the French club. She is also ranked ninth in her class of 535, which is no easy feat considering all her classes are Advanced Placements.
It is my passion to support each person in any way I can, whether by raising money to help them in a time of need, or simply holding the door open for them.
This may sound simple, until you factor in the baking process, a four-to-eight-hour endeavor. Plus, there are delivery logistics, which consist of a large cooler on their front porch or delivering to neighbors and students and teachers at school. Each Tuesday, Emerson would post cake videos and take orders and by the time she was just 12 years old, she had raised nearly $12,000.
Add in friends, family, school social events, and her position on First United Methodist Church’s youth leadership team and you can understand why it took her a minute to respond when asked what she enjoys doing in her spare time.
Not only is Tuesday Treats still going strong, but growing community support has been the icing on its cake as she has now raised a total of $50,000. Just one of their many opportunities to help came when Emerson’s mom, a school librarian, heard of a student who had blood cancer and whose family was in need. Emerson set out to raise money to replace the flooring in their home and, after rallying the troops, the family was able to redo the entire home — appliances and all.
COMMUNITY CATALYST
After being chosen to be a part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Student Visionary program, Emerson has chosen to make their mission and the Visionary of the Year competition her primary focus.
Their mission: “…a philanthropic leadership development program through which highly motivated high-school leaders embark on a journey of professional growth, fostering professional skills such as entrepreneurship, marketing, and project management, all while working to raise as much as possible for LLS’ mission.”
“As I get older, I am able to realize and appreciate the impact of what it means to give to others.”
For the competition, students form candidate teams of 1-3 peers who raise money in honor of a local pediatric blood cancer survivor. They are encouraged to recruit others to support their goals and LLS staff work with candidate teams to map out a plan for success. Teams have seven weeks to raise money and LLS holds a gala to announce the total money raised and the top teams.
This year, 19 teams are competing. Emerson’s team of one is called “A Sweet Change.” As part of her fundraising efforts, and as a tennis enthusiast herself, she planned and directed a tournament at the Georgetown Country Club. She managed the event from start to finish — recruiting, scheduling players, and coordinating raffle baskets.
She also organized a karaoke fundraiser at Mesquite Creek Outfitters on the Square. Donations were accepted from people who wished to sing, did not wish to sing, or wanted to pay for someone else to sing. Once again, Emerson says, she was overwhelmed by the community support.
SIMPLY WELL ROUNDED
Emerson has so many interests, she is not sure which career she will ultimately pursue. She feels drawn to audiology, pathology, mental health, and supporting cancer research and charities but her dream is to travel the world. She wants to reach out globally to rebuild, teach, or — as she likes to put it — just hold the door open for others.
Her inspiring combination of strength and determination, combined with a measure of poise far beyond her years, makes asking Emerson what she wants to be when she grows up somehow seem amiss, since she has already demonstrated such a depth of maturity and a level of accomplishment.
