October is National Bullying Prevention Month and we’re partnering with Free2Luv® an organization that spreads the word that LOVE is stronger than hate and braver than bullying. We'd like to invite you to join the global FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS BULLY® social media campaign.
We're rallying our clients, manufacturers, teammates and community to unite and stand up to bullying. The call to action is simple: Take a pic with our FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS BULLY sign, post it on social media with designated hashtags, and challenge friends and fans to join in.
~ Take the Challenge and Get Rewarded! ~
For the entire month of October, we are giving away a "Play Kind Pack", which includes lots of sensory play goodies, to four lucky winners who follow the rules of entry below. Each person who follows the rules of entry will also be entered into a drawing for a FREE Buddy Bench at the School or Park of your choice (see below)! Here is what you need to do to be entered into the "Play Kind Pack" drawing:
#1 ~ Snap a pic with the FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS BULLY sign at your favorite park or school and post to social media with the hashtags:
#2 ~ Follow Miracle Playsystems on Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn/Twitter
Also Follow Free2Luv on Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn/Twitter
~ Request a FREE Needs Assessment and
Win a Buddy Bench! ~
In addition to the social media campaign, we are running a promotion when you requests a FREE Needs Assessment for your school or park district in the month of October, you will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a FREE Buddy Bench to be installed at the school or park of your choice! Help spread inclusion and kindness by including one of these benches in every playground today!
How Does a Buddy Bench Work?
If you ARE sitting on the bench... You are looking for a friend. When someone asks you to play, join them, and always remember to glance over at the school's Buddy Bench to invite new friends to join in on the fun.
If you ARE NOT sitting on the bench... Ask the child on the buddy bench to play, and make a new friend today! Keep growing your circle of friends until everyone has someone to play with.
Make Buddies, Not Bullies
Give children a safe place to foster friendships and eliminate loneliness. Encourage inclusion on the playground. A Buddy Bench could be used by a child who is new to the school or neighborhood, they want to make friends but are painfully shy and don't know how to approach other children playing, they don't see their friends at school or on the playground and don't know how to approach other kids to play with them, or they want to play something different than what their friend is playing.
Free2Luv's Mission
Free2Luv® is a youth empowerment nonprofit that transforms the bullied to brave, celebrates individuality and saves lives through the arts. Since their inception in 2011, Free2Luv has been committed to addressing the bullying, youth suicide, and mental health crisis our youth are sadly experiencing by providing tools to thrive and turn their pain into power and purpose. They educate, empower, and inspire over 25,000 under-resourced and at-risk youth every year through their arts and music empowerment programming and workshops.
1 out of every 3 children experiences some form of bullying and 9 out of 10 LGBT students experience harassment at school and online. Further, 20% of high school students say they have seriously considered suicide. Free2Luv believes this epidemic needs to stop. They know the scarring and lasting impact bullying has on our youth, robbing them of their innocence and emotionally stripping them of their well-being. Through their youth empowerment initiatives, Free2Luv's goal is to leave no child feeling alone, unwanted or less than perfect just the way their are.
When we build strong communities, we can create change. At Free2Luv, they know our youth are our future and they make it their daily mission to empower and uplift them because when we raise confident, empowered children, we minimize bullying and teen suicide. They provide youth all of the tools necessary to go into their communities and advocate kindness, acceptance, and friendship. When youth come together and are empowered, they have the power to turn their adversity and struggle into a positive where they can thrive and inspire others.
Partnership donations directly support the following initiatives designed to empower youth to be their best selves:
WE CARE Program: Free2Luv gifts empowerment packages, no questions asked, to children being bullied, considering self-harm or struggling with their identity. They invite these youth to join their advocacy program and find that youth who once felt hopeless, become shinning stars in their community.
Youth Advocacy Program: This program brings together young game changers who have demonstrated outstanding contributions in their community along with youth experiencing difficulty due to bullying. Together they are given an opportunity to empower each other along with other youth going through similar experiences. Collectively, they create a powerful voice for change and encourage other youth to stand up, speak out and let their voices be heard.
Empowerment Events and Kindness Workshops: Free2Luv produces events aimed at eradicating bullying, raising self-esteem, and rockin' kindness. These events utilize art and music to engage, enlighten, and empower kids to celebrate their uniqueness, recognize the impact of their words and actions on others and foster inclusive dialogue.
Awareness Campaigns: Free2Luv creates thought-provoking online awareness campaigns that promote kindness, build self-esteem and encourage youth to stand up to bullying. They invite communities to unite and #TakeThePledge, become advocates for kindness and commit to a "bully-free" environment.
