As October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, STOMP Out Bullying – the signature program of Love Our Children USA – announces its annual bullying prevention activities to raise awareness to end the epidemic of bullying.
On October 3rd, the country and many across the globe joined STOMP Out Bullying in it Third Annual BLUE SHIRT DAY – WORLD DAY OF BULLYING PREVENTION where students, schools, and others wore blue shirts in solidarity to STOMP Out Bullying. The day was most successful as hundred of thousands went blue across the globe.
Teen celebrities Bella Thorne, Willow Shields, Joey King, Mark Indelicato, Cassie Steele, Olesya Rulin, Alexz Johnson, Taylor Spreitler, Y I Yell!, Payton Rae and Savannah Outen tweeted about the day and are involved in a month-long social media campaign to promote the organizations prevention activities with its sponsor Customink.
In order to raise funds for bullying and cyberbullying prevention, education and peer mentoring in our schools, STOMP Out Bullying is holding its Fourth Annual Celebrity STOMP Out Bullying Auction on CharityBuzz which just began and ends on October 12th.
It’s no surprise that celebrities are generous and they care deeply about putting an end to bullying. This year’s auction includes: A set visit to the award winning hit show Mad Men, two tickets to see world-renowned singer, songwriter and performer Elton John in “The Million Dollar Piano” in Las Vegas, tickets, VIP tickets and front-section passes to Katy Perry's Concert in Las Vegas, VIP tickets and a meet and greet to see Sugarland at the Mohegan Sun, VIP tickets to the Ellen Show with a high-end swag bag, tickets to the MTV 2012 Movie Awards, VIP tickets with Press Credential Passes to American Idol, a set visit to the ABC Family show Switched at Birth, a one-week internship with famed celebrity publicist and CEO of 42 West Leslee Dart, VIP Tickets to Dancing With the Stars, and a Meet and Greet for four with Buddy Valastro AKA the Cake Boss.
Celebrity experiences are still coming in as this annual auction is an important event to help raise funds for Love Our Children USA’s bullying prevention programs. The charity is very grateful to all of the celebrities who support this auction because they all know how very critical it is to end bullying and keep our youth safe, as well as to stop all those who are at-risk for suicide.
Other celebrities and those in the entertainment industry who have supported the annual auction include: Paul McCartney, Bette Midler, Billy Joel, Céline Dion, Barry Manilow, John Cusack, Bryan Adams, Chris Daughtry, Kelly Clarkson, Demi Lovato, Metallica, Michael Buble, Donny and Marie, Tom Bergeron, ABC TV, Nigel Lythgoe, So You Think You Can Dance, Ashleigh Banfield, Maria Sansone and LXTV New York, The NY METS, In The Heights, Cameron Mathison, All My Children, The View, Live With Regis & Kelly, Dr. Oz, Fox 5 Good Day New York, and others.
And to date the STOMP Out Bullying Global Ambassadors include: Actress Brittany Snow, recording artist Sean Kingston, singer and producer Lance Bass, singer and actress Emily Osment, singer JoJo, Z100 radio host Carolina Bermudez, Pretty Little Liars star Tyler Blackburn, Switched At Birth star Katie LeClerc, actress Melissa Joan Hart, TV Host Maria Sansone, soap opera stars Kristen Alderson and Brittany Underwood and child star Coy Stewart.
Since 2005, STOMP Out Bullying – a national anti-bullying and cyberbullying program for kids and teens – has focused on reducing and preventing bullying, cyberbullying, sexting and other digital abuse, educating against homophobia, racism and hatred, decreasing school absenteeism, and deterring violence in schools, online and in communities across the country. It teaches effective solutions on how to respond to all forms of bullying; as well as educating kids and teens in school and online, providing help for those in need and at risk of suicide, raising awareness and offers peer mentoring programs in schools.
The program offers kids and teens a safe haven. From information and resources, to a 24/7 HelpChat line for kids and teens who are bullied, cyberbullied and at-risk for suicide, to an online area where they can talk about bullying, get involved in social media efforts, sign a petition and a pledge for younger kids, become peer mentors at school, raise awareness and offer students their own way to end this epidemic with the Student Participation Toolkit and BLUE SHIRT DAY – WORLD DAY OF BULLYING PREVENTION, STOMP Out Bullying offers help and solutions.
In fact since its HelpChat Line began this past June, STOMP Out Bullying has helped over 1300 students and saved the lives of 32.
Ross Ellis, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of STOMP Out Bullying said: “Kids who are intimidated, threatened, or harmed by bullies and cyberbullies often experience low self-esteem and depression. Some kids are so tormented that suicide has become an alternative for them. It has everyone worried. Not just the kids on its receiving end, but the parents and others who may not understand how extreme bullying can get. Parents, teachers and school administrators must take caution and sensitivity in handling these issues.”
She also stated that “Bullying can be so painful and clearly has played a role in many recent suicides across the country. And cyberbullying is in full force with the use of social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and other sites popular with kids and teens. This social online cruelty is used by individuals or groups intended to harm our youth. We cannot let one more youth take their life.”
1 out of 4 kids are bullied, 9 out of 10 LGBT kids are harassed every day, 43% of teens, 97% of middle schoolers and 47% of older teens 18-24 are cyberbullied, and over 160,000 kids stay home from school everyday for fear of being bullied.
Bullies and cyerbullies can have low self-esteem or even very high self-esteem, but they also usually come from homes of violence, anger and other maladies.
Bystanders are the kids and teens who witness the bullying and do nothing. The victims, the bullies and the bystanders must get help.
Ellis said “STOMP Out Bullying offers hope for every student who experiences the harmful effects of bullying and teaches parents to keep open communication with their children and to look for signs. It also educates school administrators across the country who have failed our youth and must commit to helping them.”
Bullying is a form of child abuse and bullies are very likely to grow up as adults who abuse children. By educating our children, we can stop the bullying BEFORE it ever starts.
Celebrities and the entertainment industry use their names and voices in various ways and play a big part in helping to keep youth safe across the country and to STOMP Out Bullying.
