February 16, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Julie Holmquist 952-838-9000, [email protected]
PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center Wins at the Grammy Awards!
“All About Bullies… Big and Small” named Best Children’s Album
MINNEAPOLIS: When the Grammy Award for Best Children’s Album was presented Sunday in Los Angeles, PACER Center was one of the winners. The CD “All About Bullies… Big and Small” received music’s highest award, and all proceeds from its sale go to support the mission of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. The CD can be purchased at allaboutbulliesbigandsmall.com.
Producer Steve Pullara, of Philadelphia’s Cool Beans Music, gave a ‘shout out’ to PACER from the Grammy stage and again to the throng of international reporters gathered for the event. “This is incredible!” said Pullara as he accepted the Grammy on behalf of more than 20 artists who participated in the project. “We created this out of love. We have a lot of people here who all volunteered their time and all of the money is going to PACERKidsAgainstBullying.org.”
“All About Bullies… Big and Small” features a unique mix of poems and songs about bullies on the bus, cyberbullies, children who don’t fit in, and children who are learning to stand up for themselves. A common theme runs throughout as each child finds a way to act differently, or to accept other children for who they are. “The CD creatively speaks to all children through music and poetry,” said Julie Hertzog, director of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. “It offers a beautiful way to educate children about the universal theme of treating one another with kindness.”
More than 160,000 children miss school every day out of fear of attack or intimidation by other students. Children who are bullied are more likely to develop depression and anxiety disorders that do not disappear at the end of the school year. Doctors say the effects of bullying can last a lifetime. In some cases, bullying can even lead to suicide.
“We did this to bring attention to bullying and here we are. It’s unbelievable,” said producer Gloria Domina. “It really sends a message and the message is not just for kids.”
PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center provides creative and interactive resources that are designed to benefit all students, including students with disabilities. It offers educators, students, families, and individuals the tools they need to address bullying in schools, recreational programs, or community organizations. For more information, or to donate, visit PACER.org/bullying or call (952) 838-9000.
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About PACER Center: Based in Minnesota, PACER Center is a national parent center serving all youth, with a special emphasis on children with disabilities. Learn more at PACER.org or call (952) 838-9000; (888) 248-0822 (national toll free).