UPDATE: Retired teacher collecting cash for 2nd Brilliant Bus

The Palm Beach Post

UPDATE: Estella says she would like to raise enough money to buy a second Brilliant Bus. If you want to help see the information at the end of this post.

Did you see that Palm Beach County had its very own presence at the Super Bowl Sunday? No, not on the field. Even better: In the commercials.

Retired veteran Palm Beach County teacher, Estella Pyfrom, 78,  got a very pricey 60 seconds for her technology loaded Brilliant Bus, courtesy of Microsoft. The students of Pahokee Elementary are in there as well.

It was one of two ads placed in the most watched airtime of the year by the technology giant.

“We are extremely pleased. We are happy to play a part to make her Brilliant Bus even more brilliant,” Microsoft spokesman Lou Gellos said Monday.

The spot is narrated by rapper Common who is reciting passages from speeches by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
“The real question that needs to be asked as well as answered is what is it that we can do that is unique, that is impactful,” Common says.

And then, “This is Estella Pyfrom and this is my Brilliant Bus… I had an idea. A bus that brings technology to the kids that need it most…”

Pyfrom’s work has been highlighted in the pages of The Palm Beach Post. From there her work came to the attention of CNN, which recognized her as one of its 10  CNN Heroes in 2013. She’s also been honored by the White House and local business associations.

She has spent a lifetime educating and volunteering, but it is her work after retirement that has drawn so much attention. Pyfrom invested her retirement savings into her idea – an idea that has cost more than $1 million.

Along the way, she sought help, including help from Microsoft and its YouthSpark program. That program was launched in 2012 with a goal of creating opportunities for 300 million youth by 2015.



“It’s an initiative designed to help, frankly, in the same manner she’s doing,” Gellos said. Pyfrom got that grant which helped furnish the bus. “We’ve been following her ever since.”

And when the opportunity came to pick some of Microsoft’s best work in that vein, she was an obvious choice.
“Hers is a perfect example of how technology can really help folks and the idea someone would be able to set up something like this is great – an example of what everyone should want to do.”

Work began a couple of months ago on the advertisement that was shot in Palm Beach County.

“My family always has a Super Bowl party and I usually find something else to do,” Pyfrom admits. But not this time. Instead, she was filled with anxiety heading into the third quarter knowing that her moment was coming and worrying that the incessant phone ringings and text message pings would distract in the critical moment.

“It was crazy, but in a good way,” Pyfrom said.

The commercial was shot before Christmas break, but that wasn’t the last she saw of Microsoft’s crew. They returned shortly after to update every one of the 17 computers aboard her Brilliant Bus and supplied  28 tablets as well.
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UPDATE: I’ve heard from some people who would like to contribute to Estella’s dream. To do that you can go to the website estellasbrilliantbus.org and hit the ‘donate’ button.  You can also email her email [email protected] or call her (561)985-1889.

Staff Writer

The Palm Beach Post