Whiz Kids: Brittany Smith Asks Gilroy High to Help Japan

When 17-year-old Brittany Smith heard about the massive earthquake in Japan, the first thing she did was pick up the phone.

Smith didn’t just have the images from the evening news in her mind—she also had the memory of the family that hosted her visit to Takko-Machi, Gilroy’s sister city, last summer.

“It was so surreal to see waves heading in toward the coast and not being able to do something,” Smith, a senior at Gilroy High School, said. 

It was the following day, while a wave of evacuees crossed Hecker Pass fearing the oncoming tsunami, that Smith unveiled her plan.

For the next two weeks, Smith and members of Gilroy High’s Associated Student Body will raise money to donate to the Red Cross’s efforts in Japan.

, but damage to roads has made it difficult to get supplies to the mountain city, according to the city’s coordinator for international relations, Jessica Brewka.

“Telling students that it’s for our sister city really helps it hit home,” Smith said.

“She approached me Friday morning and said, ‘Can we do something?’” said Julie Berggren, student activities director.

At the time, ASB students were already beginning to discuss what their fall fundraiser would be, Berggren said. The earthquake made up their minds.

Students distributed around 50 donation jars in classrooms and offices around the school. Depending on the results from this week, Smith said she’ll consider making a greater push to solicit donations.

Nonstudents can still .