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Date: 10/5/2017
EAST LONGMEADOW – Local non-profit Unify Against Bullying is being awarded a $1,000 award from Big Y on Oct. 5 for their outstanding efforts to end bullying and spread their message.
Unify Against Bullying was created nearly three years ago, and focuses on ending bullying through the celebration of diversity. “There are countless children waging quiet battles against bullying. Many believe that they are alone. Unify Against Bullying wants these children to know that they are far from alone. They are supported by a loving, caring community of fellow students, teachers, parents, brothers, sisters, business leaders and others. When we stand together, we stand as one,” their site, unifyagainstbullying.org, reads.
Member of the Sponsorship Committee Werner Maiwald explained all of the recent activities that Unify Against Bullying has participated in.
“We do selfie challenges, we have a diverse fashion show at the Log Cabin with over 650 people, the governor has done it with us, the Princess of Greece is one of our patrons, so this is all in the last year and a half, two years. Now as we’re getting more visibility locally, regionally, and nationwide, it looks like Big Y is coming on board, Kohl’s department stores, Paul Mitchell hair products, things are happening in a relatively short time, but we also want to make sure we don’t lose our local traction,” he said.
Maiwald describes the group as a “financial lifeline.” Unify Against Bullying will look at different schools and programs that have a challenging time getting funding, and through Unify’s fundraising efforts, the non-profit will donate money to varying programs that uphold Unify’s core beliefs of diversity and acceptance.
“From our fundraising efforts, we then take grant applications and we make monetary awards to them. We’ve given out thousands and thousands of dollars to groups that are in schools, there’s a theater project in upstate New York that we’re funding, it’s not just about the bullying per-se. Some of these are more on the diversity end of it while incorporating the anti-bullying message,” Maiwald said.
October is bullying prevention month, and each October Unify Against Bullying has made an effort to create a movement through out the month. Last year, the non-profit worked to receive 50 selfies in 50 days from 50 countries. The selfie had to feature an individual with “Unify” written on their hand, with their hand covering their mouths.
“We had 50 states, 56 countries, in 50 days. This year to coincide with October anti-bullying, we’re reaching out to 50 celebrities in 50 days. We have 25 already. We have a selfie-Ellen-DeGeneres-day coming up where the kids are bringing their phones and we’re just going to barrage Ellen DeGeneres,” Maiwald said.
At 11 a.m. on Oct. 5 Unify Against Bullying will accept their $1,000 “big check” from Big Y, and will put it toward their latest set of grant applications that they receive.