Celebrities STOMP Out Bullying With Love Our Children USA

Online, September 28, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Love Our Children USA announced that NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford is proclaiming October 4th BLUE SHIRT DAY - DAY OF BULLYING PREVENTION to signify the importance of National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week, October 3rd - 9th with bullying prevention activities taking place throughout the month.

National Blue Shirt Day - World Day of Bullying Prevention is observed on the first Monday of every October and is an initiative of STOMP Out Bullying, a signature program of Love Our Children USA.

This year kids, teens and adults are being asked to make October 4th the day that bullying prevention is heard around the world by wearing a Blue Shirt in solidarity to STOMP Out Bullying. Several schools are participating in the day and this will be the second year for Scripps Ranch High School. Kids can get involved by creating World Day of Bullying Prevention - Blue Shirt Day and STOMP Out Bullying events. There are many ways to get involved.

Love Our Children USA launched the STOMP Out Bullying program in 2005 which focuses on reducing and preventing bullying, cyberbullying, and other digital abuse, educating against homophobia, racism and hatred, decreasing school absenteeism and truancy, and deterring violence in schools, online and in communities across the country. It includes peer mentoring programs in schools, public service announcements by noted celebrities, in-school education, online and social media campaigns.

It offers kids and teens a safe haven. From information and resources, to an online area where kids and teens can talk about bullying, to getting involved in social media efforts, signing a petition, a pledge for younger kids, raising awareness and Blue Shirt Day, STOMP Out Bullying offers help and solutions.

It's not just our politicians who support the STOMP Out Bullying program, Lifetime Moms and Rolemommy.com are sponsoring this important initiative and celebrities are out in full force to help.

STOMP Out Bullying has named actress Brittany Snow and child actor Coy Stewart as its Global Ambassadors. Teen singers JoJo and Demi Lovato and the Oogieloves for younger kids participated in PSAs and Lauren J. Irwin, a singer and actress from the U.K. who led the forefront in bullying prevention there, has joined in STOMP Out Bullying's efforts with her song "Stand Tall and an online message.

In order to raise funds for bullying and cyberbullying prevention, education and peer mentoring in our country's schools, Love Our Children USA is holding its Third Annual Celebrity STOMP Out Bullying Auction on charitybuzz from October 1st -20th.
This year's celebrity contributors include: Paul McCartney, Elton John, Ellen Degeneres, Celine Dion, Barry Manilow, Sugarland, Bryan Adams, Dancing With The Stars and Tom Bergeron, So You Think You Can Dance, All My Children and Cameron Mathison, Jimmy Fallon, Nickelback, Parenthood, The Office, Good Day New York, Dr. Oz, Maria Sansone and LXTV, Caesars Tribute to Ice Skating Stars and more!

Ross Ellis, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Love Our Children USA 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."

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 an individual or group intended to harm our youth.

Bullies and cyerbullies may 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.

Statistics
• 1 out of 4 kids are bullied
• 43% of teens, 97% of middle schoolers and 47% of older teens 18-24 are cyberbullied
• Over 160,000 kids stay home from school everyday for fear of being bullied
• 1.5 million high school students are hazed each year

Ellis said "STOMP Out Bullying offers hope for every kid 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 swept this issue under the rug for too long."

According to Ellis: "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. We are grateful to the entertainment industry and with their help we can keep kids safe across the country."