Palm Beach County-Based Bullying Foundation Wants to End Bullying Stigma

By: Bryanna Basilio

“When a child commits suicide or does not go to school because of the fear of being bullied, or another child is killed the parents are very upset and are desperate for help and advice as well as immediate guidance,” said Stop Bullying Now Foundation Founder and CEO, Lowell Levine.

“Palm Beach County School District has the school violence and bullying problem. We are the 11th largest School District in the Country with close to 200,000 K-12 students.”

South Florida based, Stop Bullying Now Foundation Inc’s mission is to raise money for school districts around the country to address and eliminate the ongoing dangerous student bullying problem which is causing death, much mental and physical harm as well as forcing students to dropout of school.

“These school districts do not have the funds to address this important problem because of budget cuts due to deficits,” said Levine. “Together we can make a huge difference and help not only the children but their families.”

The program aims to, “Educate Bullying Awareness” by educating parents, mentoring children who are being bullied, and the main goal: to save children in grades age K-12 from committing suicide and eliminate fear of going to school, both very real issues when looking at statistics.

Studies by the National Education Association (NEA) state the following:

160,000 students stay home from school every day due to bullying.
30% of students who reported they had been bullied said they had at times brought weapons to school.
A bully is 6 times more likely to be incarcerated by the age of 24.
A bully is 5 times more likely to have a serious criminal record when he grows up.
2/3 of students who are targets become bullies.
20% of all children say they have been bullied.
20% of high school students say they have seriously considered suicide within the last 12 months.

The foundation works with children teaching them leadership, teamwork, and practice in order to build their self esteem and self confidence. “Our Foundation spends the time through counseling, awareness, life skills, open communication, and creative outlets.”

To accomplish their vision in the short term, the foundation provides access to professional speakers and counselors, from the surrounding community, who are able and willing to assist these youths by providing their various needs.

“Whether it is a child from Boca Raton to Jupiter or Lake Worth to Pahokee, we help all children and their parents,” said Lowell. “This is our passion and devotion because we will not accept a family being destroyed for life because their healthy bright child was bullied and committed suicide or was killed by another student.”

For information on Stop Bullying Now Foundation or to donate visit http://stopbullyingnowfoundation.org/main/