Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet
Pittsburgh- Acts of Kindness was founded in 2000 by high school student Emily Markewicz. After witnessing her younger sister experience bullying in her elementary school of Mars, PA, Markewicz chose to take a stand and make a change. She began a program, known today as Acts of Kindness, where she and her fellow high school classmates helped to educate elementary students on the signs of bullying, as well as discussing the cons of bullying and ways to spread kindness.
After high school, Markewicz’s school program continued to be implemented in her school, while she attempted to grow her organization to other schools across the state. After one year, she was able to raise enough money, as well as raise awareness for her organization that ultimately grew into a nationwide program that schools across the U.S. use today. This organization now employs more than 100 individuals who help to run an internet based organization, creating educational materials for schools to use.
Each lesson is meant to teach to a specific age and grade. All contain basic anti-bullying awareness information, peacemaking skills, and steps on how to handle being bullied. Lesson plans consist of short scenarios where students analyze acts of bullying and discuss whether the characters addressed the problem and how they handled it. Also, students learn the signs of bullying and how to be more than a bystander, creating a bullying report that can help limit bullying that can sometimes can go unnoticed.
Asides from students, content is made available for teachers and school districts to use to educate themselves on how to detect bullying in their classrooms. These plans focus primarily on the signs of bullying and how teachers can best handle situations, whether they see them or must process a bullying report. In addition, these plans focus on how teachers treat children in a classroom setting. The lessons discuss how every child is special and unique, as well as how to tolerate difficult situations and monitor stereotyping.
Schools currently involved with Acts of Kindness:
Acts of Kindness anti-bullying campaigns are used in 48 states by over 500 schools. While this campaign is growing, individuals can click here to see which state and school districts apply.
What exactly is bulling? Bullying is an intentional effort to hurt, harm, or humiliate another individual. This can occur in a school setting, community, or online. Bullies are often seen to have a high social or physical status, which often contradicts who they target. Bullying can be both a repeated or one time incident, either leaves students feeling as less of a person.
Bullying can take many forms, such as physical, verbal, emotional or cyber. All negatively affect children and usually result in emotional pain that adults may not be able to easily recognize. While physical bullying leaves scars such as bruises, broken bones or damaged belongings, words, gossip and rumors create a trail of emotional pain other students and adults may not discover.
Bullying Statistics:
8% of U.S. students in grades 6–12 experienced bullying
20% of U.S. students in grades 9–12 experienced bullying
Approximately 30% of young people admit to bullying others in surveys
70.6% of young people say they have seen bullying in their schools
70.4% of school staff have seen bullying. 62% witnessed bullying two or more times in the last month and 41% witness bullying once a week or more
When bystanders intervene, bullying stops within 10 seconds 57% of the time
6% of students in grades 6–12 experienced cyberbullying
16% of high school students (grades 9–12) were electronically bullied in the past year
Merchandise Available:
All merchandise comes available with the option of Russell the Robin's logo, Acts of Kindness logo or “Fly Above” slogan.
T-Shirts
Sweatshirts
Ball Caps
“Fly Above” Wristbands
Russell the Robin String Bags
Characters in Educational Videos:
Russell the Robin
Freddie the Fish
Allan the Ant
Sally the Squirrel
Harry the Hedgehog
Leo the Lizard
Steps Taught:
Step 1: I see
Step 2: Identify
Step 3: I do
How to get involved?
Schools can sign-up on the Acts of Kindness website. All a sign-up includes are a contact name and number, school district and verification details. From there, the contact will receive email updates on new lessons plans, as well as access to Acts of Kindness intranet to view video content and additional educational materials.
