2019 Benefit Video: We Have Hope, The Story of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center

Paula Goldberg, PACER’s Executive Director, shares the behind-the-scenes story that inspired the creation of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center in 2006.

Transcript

It was the most horrific letter I’d ever received or I have ever received since then.

The letter said, from the father, my son has mild cognitive disabilities, he’s in middle school, and six boys take his head and bang it against his locker every single day.

That father’s story
was the catalyst,
inspiring PACER’s bold move
to create the National Bullying Prevention Center.

My son does not want to go to school anymore, he cries, he can’t read, and then the letter went on to say the principal doesn’t do anything.

What started that day
became an internationally-recognized movement
impacting over 1.4 million individuals every year.

I called five staff into a room and I said, we are going to change the culture in this society, we are going to make every child safe.

There is still much that needs to be done.

The family of SHELBY DOSS,
a young woman who died by suicide the day before her 18th birthday,
named PACER as her memorial charity.

It’s a heartbreaking reminder
that we must never stop our efforts
to protect all youth from bullying.

PACER wants all families and their children to have hope.

We have hope
that those who feel safe and supported
will live up
to their full potential.

We have hope
to create a world without bullying
and with your help, (PACER) will be here until that’s true.

We have hope.
We have hope.
We have hope.