Communities unite to support children and families during PACER's National Bullying Prevention Month in October

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 13 million children are bullied in America each year. That's one out of every three students. October is National Bullying Prevention Month, which was developed in 2006 by PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center to raise awareness of the issue. October is the time when educators, students, parents and community members can unite to send an important message – that bullying is no longer acceptable in their community, said Julie Hertzog, director of PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center in Minneapolis, Minn.

"We all know what the research shows – that bullying can erode self-esteem, cause anxiety and depression, impact learning at school, and even lead to suicide," Hertzog said. "Many students do not feel adults are adequately addressing this issue. Every year communities across the country come together to take action and respond to that concern in October, so students who are bullied will know that there's support available."

Community members can take action in several ways. They can use the free online resources from PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center, show their true colors by wearing orange on Oct. 9 for Unity Day, or become a "Champion" for the cause.

Web-based tools

Last year, two million people in nearly 200 countries used the National Bullying Prevention Center's resources and web-based tools to plan events, activities, outreach, and educational initiatives. Bullying prevention tools and resources are available on three websites: PACER.org/Bullying for parents, teachers, and other adults; PACERTeensAgainstBullying.org for teens; and PACERKidsAgainstBullying.org for elementary school students.

Unity Day

Students, teachers, and community members will wear orange and send a united message of support on Unity Day, Wednesday, Oct. 9. Students will distribute orange "UNITY" ribbons, write the word "UNITY" on their hands or school binders, and post about Unity Day on social media. They can also wear the "official" Unite Against Bullying T-shirt thanks to a partnership with CustomInk.com. Groups and individuals can also create custom designs or order bullying prevention T-shirts created by celebrities. The partnership with CustomInk is part of its "Be Good to Each Other" campaign that encourages people to take a stand for kindness and tolerance. The orange T-shirts are just $12 and can be ordered by clicking on the T-shirt graphic at PACER.org/bullying. Proceeds support PACER's bullying prevention programs.

"This is such a simple way to make a powerful statement," said Paula F. Goldberg, PACER Center's executive director. "Anyone can join with us to "Make It Orange and Make It End."

Run, Walk, Roll Against Bullying

Supporters across the country will hold Run, Walk, Roll Against Bullying events in October to raise awareness. PACER's event, hosted by the Friends of PACER, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 5, at Normandale Lake Park in Bloomington, Minn. It is a 4-mile run or 1.5 mile walk or roll followed by entertainment, speakers, snacks, and family fun. PACER offers a free toolkit that makes it easy for organizations to stage a Run, Walk, Roll Against Bullying in their community. Events are planned in more than 20 cities this year, including Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Las Vegas. More information, and a complete list of locations, is available at PACER.org/bullying/nbpm/RunWalkRoll.

Become a Champion, Take the Pledge

Organizations and individuals can also take an active role during October by visiting PACER.org/bullying/nbpm and choosing to be a Champion, or by signing the digital petition pledging, "The End of Bullying Begins with Me," at PACER.org/bullying/digitalpetition. National partners include the National Education Association, the American Federation for Teachers, the National PTA, and many others.

About PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center: PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center provides creative, interactive resources that are designed to benefit all students, including those with disabilities. It offers educators, students, families and individuals tools to address bullying in schools, the community, and online. For more information, visit PACER.org/bullying or call (952) 838-9000 or (888) 248-0822 (national toll free).

Contact: Sarah Busch ([email protected])
(952) 838-9000, National toll-free (888) 248-0822

SOURCE PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center