PEEPS® Bunnies Help Virginia Middle School Prevent Bullying

BETHLEHEM, Pa., June 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- PEEPS^® Brand Candies will again team up with Franklin Middle School in Chantilly, VA, to celebrate the school's anti-bullying program.  The campaign, "Standing Up For Our Peeps", will conclude at an assembly on June 12, at 2 pm. The one-hour event will acknowledge the effort of the students (825) and staff and will provide an entertaining overview of this year's project as well as a preview of next year's program.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120611/PH22127 )

The assembly will feature:

• Announcement of winners of Franklin's PEEPS^® anti-bullying diorama contest.
• Viewing of PEEPS^® video and recognition of actors/actresses.
• Slideshows showing students working on dioramas and the finished dioramas.
• Judges' presentation.
• Introduction of PEEPS^® anti-bullying essay winner and reading of winning essay. 
• Announcement of diorama contest winners.
• Photo opportunity for winners who will be asked to stay behind to collect prizes.

Students and staff will be encouraged to wear their PEEPS^® branded t-shirts that feature the slogan: "Inside We're All The Same", with 4 PEEPS^® bunnies in different colors and the Franklin Middle School "Peeps Pledge" on the back of the shirt.   

FCPS School Social Worker Devra Gordon, MSW and co-creator of Franklin's anti-bullying project, commented "We are so pleased with the growth of our PEEPS® anti-bullying program. Our students and staff have been introduced to the tools needed to build a school community where bullying is not tolerated.  In a safe and very open environment, we provided our students and staff with positive behavior approaches they can utilize to prevent and intervene when they encounter a bullying situation. Our focus is to create a positive school community, in which we all 'Stand Up For Our PEEPS' and in our role as educators teach everyone how to do that.  Most importantly, it is working -- disruptive and disrespectful behaviors dropped 50% as a result of our PEEPS^® program, supplementing our other existing activities.

"Our connection with the PEEPS® brand started when one of our teachers came across the fabulous 'Inside We're All the Same' PEEPS^® coffee mug. This statement and the PEEPS^® Bunny image ignited a spark between a few of us, and along with Just Born, the maker of PEEPS^®, we had all the ingredients needed to create a unique anti-bullying program. Just Born responded very positively and stopped by last year in their PEEPSTER^® Chick Car to take pictures with our students and provide sweet incentive for us to 'Stand Up For Our Peeps.' We know Just Born has our back.  After all, our PEEPS^® pledge is on the back of the PEEPS^® t-shirts they so generously donated to our entire school!"

Cindy Glick, Corporate Affairs Manager at Just Born, commented, "Franklin Middle School is exemplary in what it is trying to accomplish and how it is going about it.  When we heard about their anti-bullying effort customized for middle school students, we thought it was terrific.  We are pleased to contribute to this program."

The PEEPS t-shirts can be found at the PEEPS & COMPANY^® stores at National Harbor, MD; Bethlehem, PA, and Mall of America, Bloomington, MN.  They can also be purchased online at www.peepsandcompany.com.  PEEPS® fans may also visit the exciting and interactive www.marshmallowpeeps.com.

Just Born, Inc. is a privately owned company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Bethlehem, PA, where it manufactures PEEPS^®, HOT TAMALES^® and MIKE AND IKE^® Brand Candies.   GOLDENBERG'S PEANUT CHEWS^® Brand Candies are produced in Philadelphia, PA.  All Just Born candies are made in the U.S.A. 

SOURCE Just Born, Inc.