A San Diego native took home an Oscar Sunday night for Best Documentary Short for producing “Period. End of Sentence.”
Melissa Berton attended Patrick Henry High School in San Carlos where she went on to study fine arts and eventually became a teacher in North Hollywood.
Melissa Berton’s family told NBC 7 they were thrilled to hear her name during the 91st Academy Awards.
“They called her name, and I was like, ‘Wow,’” said Melissa Berton’s sister, Tammy Berton.
Her father, Robert Berton, told us, “I jumped out of my chair at 81 years old.”
Melissa Berton in her acceptance speech said, in part, “I share this with teachers and students around the world – a period should end a sentence not a girl's education.”
“Period. End of Sentence.” was produced by Melissa Berton to highlight the Pad Project, a non-profit aimed at bettering women’s and girls’ healthcare around the world.
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“That is why I'm so proud of her – she didn't do it to become a filmmaker or to win an Oscar, she did it because it was a cause in which she felt very deeply about,” Robert Berton said.
The film highlighted the work of the North Hollywood teacher and her students: a years-long grassroots effort that brings machines that make biodegradable sanitary pads to countries like India.
In some parts of the world, women and girls don't have access to this kind of healthcare, and when they begin menstruation, that can bring an end to their education.
Tammy Berton said seeing the positive change of the project shown in the short documentary is very emotional. “It brought tears to my eyes when I watched.”
And with this Oscar, the hope is that more people will watch the film and see this global effort, said Robert Berton. “It's changing the world. It's changing things for the better.”
To learn more about the project and the film, go to the Pad Project’s website.
