Press Release
November 17, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Julie Holmquist, PACER
952-838-9000
[email protected]
Kyle Loven, FBI Media Coordinator
612-376-3368
FBI presents PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center with community leadership award
MINNEAPOLIS: FBI Special Agent in Charge Donald E. Oswald presented the 2011 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award to PACER Center and its National Bullying Prevention Center on Nov. 16, thanking PACER for “addressing America’s most alarming and violent trends against children.”
Oswald, of the Minneapolis FBI office, presented the prestigious award to Paula F. Goldberg, PACER’s executive director, and Julie Hertzog, director of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, at PACER Center in Minneapolis, Minn. The official award trophy will be presented by FBI Director Robert Mueller, III in Washington, D.C. on March 16, 2012.
“Each year, the FBI is proud to recognize a champion from our community which has had a tremendous impact on the community through the reduction of crime or improving the quality of life,” Oswald said.
Since 1990, the Director’s Community Leadership Award has been the FBI’s way of recognizing individuals and organizations which have made extraordinary contributions to crime prevention, violence prevention or education in the community.
“PACER Center without a doubt fits all three categories,” Oswald said.
He noted PACER’s work since 1978 on behalf of parents and children to address the stigma of disabilities, as well as its programs for families of children with disabilities. PACER’s programs have gained local, national, and international attention, with an estimated 1.3 million visitors reaching out to PACER’s bullying prevention website this year. More than 3 million visitors have used PACER’s website this year in search of information, training, and solutions to parenting and children’s issues, including people from more than 80 countries.
Oswald also praised PACER’s bullying prevention efforts through its National Bullying Prevention Center (PACER.org/bullying), as well its websites for children: KidsAgainstBullying.org and TeensAgainstBullying.org.
PACER’s work has provided a way for kids and teens to learn how to handle, report, and eliminate bullying, he said. One example of the teen website’s impact came through an e-mail to PACER from a young person who was planning to commit suicide, but did not after finding the website.
“Pacer Center continues to organize events to bring awareness to a crime that seldom gets the attention it deserves,” Oswald said. “Bullying, whether it is committed in person or conducted on the Internet – is unacceptable.”
Oswald honored Goldberg for her “persistence, guidance, and vision” in addressing bullying, and recognized Hertzog for the day-to-day management of the bullying prevention program.
“We know your program is making a difference, and we commend you for it,” Oswald said.
Each of the FBI’s field offices annually recommends to the FBI Director one person or organization deemed worthy of this prestigious award. The Minneapolis FBI Division represents Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
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, visit PACER.org/bullying or call 952-838-9000.
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).
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Photo available at this link:
http://www.pacer.org/about/releases/images/FBI-Award-2011.jpg
Cutline:
(L to R) Paul Luehr, of Stroz Friedberg, LLC and the Vice President of PACER’s Board; Julie Hertzog, director of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center; Paula Goldberg, PACER’s executive director; Donald E. Oswald, FBI Special Agent in Charge, Minneapolis; Kyle A. Loven, FBI Division Counsel/Media Coordinator, Minneapolis; Ron Cutlip, FBI Community Outreach Specialist, Minneapolis.
