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Early 2000: Creating a culture to prevent bullying

The staff at PACER Center noted that parents of children with disabilities were calling more frequently about bullying situations, and the stories were heartbreaking. As parents continued to express their concerns that they did not know how to help their child and did not know what their rights were or what steps to take, PACER decided to take action.

With a focus on building a culture in which bullying was no longer tolerated as an accepted rite of passage, PACER began developing free, easy-to-access resources for parents, students, schools and communities.

  • In 2003, PACER launched the curriculum “Is Your Child a Target of Bullying? Intervention Strategies for Parents of Children with Disabilities,” which was distributed nationally.
  • During 2004, PACER continued to develop printed information about bullying prevention for children with disabilities.
  • In 2005, PACER received their first grant to develop bullying prevention resources. At that time, it was decided that it was important that the resources be designed for all children, including those with disabilities. In response, PACER developed PACERKidsAgainstBullying.org, which is a website with a cast of 12 animated characters.

2006: Launched the National Bullying Prevention Center

During 2006, PACER formed the National Bullying Prevention Center. The organization also launched PACERKidsAgainstBullying.org, an interactive website for elementary age students, and created National Bullying Prevention Month, which grew into a month-long event in October 2010, and is now celebrated throughout the United States and internationally.

The demand for resources continued to grow, and PACER responded to that need by developing more resources, offering free information, and creating awareness campaigns.

Today, PACER continues to offer free and creative online resources to students, schools, parents, and the community through three websites:

Timeline Highlights

2023–

  • Provided New Resources for All Ages
    • Build Community Kit, contains interactive and visually appealing resources designed to engage participants to respond to the question, “how can you help build COMMUNITY?”
    • Beyond Sticks & Stones, 70-page comprehensive guide for parents and other adults to address and prevent bullying
    • Bullying Prevention Quick Guides, a three-version series with audience relevant content for elementary school students, middle and high school students and parents provides an overview of how bullying is defined, the roles involved, and helpful tips to address bullying behavior.
    • Cyberbullying Prevention 101 Quick Guides, a three-version series with audience relevant content for elementary school students, middle and high school students and adults outlines how cyberbullying is defined, along with information on how to prevent and address the behavior.
    • Cyberbullying Prevention Infographics, three-version infographic series with audience relevant content for elementary school students, middle and high school students and adults answers that question. The format is designed to share on social media, print for the classroom, and use as an friendly to read resource.
  • Partnered with Palm Spring Unified School District to pilot a student-led Kids Against Bullying puppet program

2022–

  • Held the “Students with Solutions” contest in which youth from around the country submitted videos about “What Bullying Is” and how to prevent it
  • Held the second virtual RUN WALK ROLL; Moving Toward a World Without Bullying
  • Created “Let’s Talk About Bullying and Disability” encouraging conversation about individuals view the intersection between bullying and disability
  • Partnered with Cartoon Network to held a 5 week webinar series for youth
  • Partnered with Cartoon Network on the Redraw Your World Without Bullying challenge

2021–

2020–

  • Annual Unity Award ceremony held virtually
  • Cartoon Network’ Stop Bullying, Speak Up partners again to offer the interactive Include Someone, Make A Difference website, along with the official Include Someone Kit, with materials for up to 30 elementary students to encourage inclusive acts
  • The “What You Can Do” 4-part handout series provides comprehensive information for students and adults about how to help someone who is experiencing bullying, as well as how to address bullying in the community.
  • Carmen’s Corner video series launches with six educational videos designed for young audiences kindergarten through third grade. It features characters from PACER’s Kids Against Bullying puppet program, highlights key concepts of bullying prevention, and promotes social-emotional learning.

2019–

  • Cartoon Network’ Stop Bullying, Speak Up partners to offer the interactive Include Someone, Make A Difference website, along with the official Include Someone Kit, with materials for up to 50 elementary students to encourage inclusive acts
  • Planet Fitness’s Judgement Free Generation partners to offer Students with Solutions initiative to help educators creatively engage their students in bullying prevention through art, writing, videos, graphic design, and photos
  • EA’s Play To Give partners in uniting for kind, inclusive, and accepting communities and online environments
  • Two new posters series are created; one for National Bullying Prevention Month and another in partnership with Instagram for Teens

2018–

  • Updated “branding language” to reflect cultural shifts in how society now views bullying.
  • Statement of purpose:
    • Updated: PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center actively leads social change to prevent childhood bullying, so that all youth are safe and supported in their schools, communities, and online.
    • Previous: PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center actively leads social change, so that bullying is no longer considered a childhood rite of passage.
    • Tagline:
      • Updated: Together, we can create a world without bullying.
      • Previous: The end of bullying begins with you.
  • Developed new resource kit titled “Create a World Without Bullying.”
  • Held the first National Bullying Prevention Center Gala in Los Angeles.

2017–

  • Several new initiatives are launched including:
    • All-In is a free year-long toolkit of classroom resources designed to create environments in which every student is included, involved, and invested in preventing and addressing bullying.
    • Students with Solutions is a project for educators to engage their students to address bullying by participating in an activity or watching a video. Students then respond to the content in their own creative way, including art, writing, graphics or videos, and can receive rewards and recognition!
    • PACERTalks About Bullying is a video series which features information and education, candid interviews, unscripted conversation with kids and teens, and helpful insights into the topic of bullying prevention.
  • Every CHOOSE KIND shirt, official tee of the film WONDER, sold benefits PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center. WONDER, R.J. Palacio’s New York Times bestseller was released on the big screen in 2017. The incredibly inspiring story of Auggie Pullman, a boy with facial differences who enters fifth grade at a mainstream school for the first time inspires all to always CHOOSE KIND.

2016 –

  • Celebrates 10th anniversary of the National Bullying Prevention Center and National Bullying Prevention Month in October.
  • Shares in the journey of Tristan McIntosh, an American Idol finalist, who in 2011 collaborated with PACER's National Bullying Prevention on the "Unity Dance"

2015 –

  • PACER’s NBPC Youth Advisory Board presented the Unity Awards, recognizing individuals or groups who made a difference in bullying prevention.
  • PACER’s NBPC joins Dancing Man, Sean O’Brien, in Hollywood to promote bullying prevention and dance for change.
  • The Minnesota Vikings and HopeLine from Verizon teamed with PACER’s NBPC to offer bullying prevention programs for students, parents and educators in the Twin Cities.
  • Bethany Mota partners with PACER’s NBPC to send a powerful message to students about bullying prevention.

2014 –

2013 –

  • Green Giant partners with PACER’s NBPC to “Raise A Giant” and to develop the student-to-student program “The WE WILL Generation”
  • Disney’s “Friends for Change” features “Bullying Prevention Action Kit” on website
  • Blue Earth becomes “Orange Earth” on Unity Day, and the Green Giant goes orange with a toga
  • We Day Minnesota features, PACER’s “WE WILL Generation” and UNITY DAY
  • ABC Family Airs “PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center” PSA throughout October
  • Frito Lay “Laces Up Against Bullying” with PACER’s NBPC
  • “Spookley the Square Pumpkin” and Holiday Hill continues to partner with PACER’s NBPC providing resources which include the new “Spookley Storybook Trail”
  • Cartoon Network, Speak Up Stop Bullying, and BULLY feature Unity Day
  • “Choose Orange” selects PACER’s NBPC for national campaign
  • ABC Family Airs “PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center” PSA throughout October

2012 –

  • “The Bully Project,” a documentary by filmmaker Lee Hirsch, partners with PACER, to raise awareness of students with disabilities and bullying.
  • PACER supports four local students to leading a bullying prevention rally in Minnesota
  • PACER becomes a Grammy winner through their collaboration on the CD, “All About Bullies Big and Small”
  • Teens Against Bullying.org is named one of the “Best Web Resources for Counselors” according to Masters In Counseling.org
  • Facebook partners with PACER to create the Student Event Toolkit that will make it easier to hold events in your school or community
  • Disney’s Next Big Thing partners with PACER’s NBPC in a live event at the Mall of America.
  • Stopbullying.gov, the federal government’s bullying prevention website, explores the history of National Bullying Prevention Month.

2011 –

  • PACER’s Executive Director and PACER advocates invited to the White House Conference on Bullying Prevention.
  • PACER invited to testify at Office for Civil Rights on behalf of students with disabilities and bullying (harassment).
  • Ellen Degeneres receives PACER's Leadership Award.
  • PACER holds the second annual Run, Walk, Roll Against Bullying. Other organizations around the country hold their own Run, Walk, Rolls using PACER's free online toolkit.
  • Thousands participate in PACER's first UNITY DAY, "Make it orange, make it end, unite against bullying". Ellen wears orange to show her support.
  • Students around the country participate in the first UNITY DANCE DAY, using music and dance to show support of those who are bullied.
  • FBI awards PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center with "Director's Community Leadership Award."

2010 – PACER’s bullying prevention resources are featured on:

  • Ellen DeGeneres’ website
  • CBS Today Show
  • CBS with Brian Williams
  • CNN with Anderson Cooper and Josh Levs
  • PEOPLE
  • Family Circle
  • Woman’s Day
  • Yahoo! Kids
  • Facebook-sponsored campaign reaching more than 15 million.
  • New York Times, in live event

2010 –

PACER sponsors the first Run, Walk, Roll Against Bullying with more than 200 participants.

2009 –

  • PACER’s TEENS AGAINST BULLYING, an edgy, teen-relevant website created with cutting-edge technology is launched.
  • Teen star and singing sensation, Demi Lovato, becomes a national spokesperson.
  • PACER pilots a KIDS AGAINST BULLYING puppet show.

2007 –

PACER partners with Yahoo! Kids during National Bullying Prevention Month.

2006 –

  • PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center (NBPC) is formed
  • PACER’s KIDS AGAINST BULLYING, an interactive, animated website for elementary school students is launched.
  • PACER sponsors the First National Bullying Prevention Month (originally a week) with the following co-sponsors: National Education Association, National PTA, American Federation for Teachers, and National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education.

2005 –

  • PACER receives a $100,000 grant from Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi Foundation to create an online bullying prevention site for elementary school students.

1977 –

  • PACER incorporates as a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

©2023 PACER Center, Inc.