The Campaign
The
Community Foundation of Middlesex County and its Council of Business Partners in collaboration with
RUSHFORD, the
Connecticut Association of Schools, The
First Tee of Connecticut,
EMPOWER,
LiveKind, Donny Marshall, Elizabeth Shulman, LMFT,
iCRV Radio, and many others invite all Middlesex County educators, town officials, civic leaders, business owners, residents and workers to stand together for change and take a pledge to stand up to bullying and all mean-spirited behavior.
The ultimate goal is to make every town in Middlesex County a bully-free community by promoting positive behavior in our schools, businesses and neighborhoods. The purpose of the Campaign is to expand the reach and awareness of the anti-bullying program; it’s impact on our community and the resources available for help. The campaign also aims to make all of Middlesex County a bully-free community encouraging everyone to take the pledge to stand together against bullying.
Find Out More about the Council of Business Partners
To learn more about CFMC’s Council of Business Partners Fund and how you can become a member or get involved, email Cynthia H. Clegg at Cynthia@MiddlesexCountyCF.org or call 860.347.0025.
Campaign History
It was through a popular and successful Middletown interfaith golf tournament, consisting of Congregation Adath Israel of Middletown and St. Mary’s Church of Portland, that two boyhood friends and Tournament organizers David Director and Marc Levin decided to team up with other business owners to form a charitable fund. Money from this fund would go directly to programs that helped improve the local community.
In 2009, working through the Community Foundation of Middlesex County, the Council of Business Partners Fund was established and the group identified bullying as an issue. Soon after, with the help of Rushford, a Hartford Healthcare Partner, the “No Bully Zone” program was developed and funded. Council members contribute $1,000 annually along with $5,000 to $7,000 donated annually from the Interfaith Golf Open Tournament of Middletown, also a Council member.
To date, the No Bully Zone Program has been implemented in Keigwin Middle and Woodrow Wilson Middle schools in Middletown; in the Haddam-Killingworth school district; in Oddfellows Playhouse projects; The Country School; and in conjunction with The First Tee of Connecticut youth programs. Most recently, the program was adapted for school bus travel on buses operated by M&J Bus Inc.
In 2014, The Community Foundation of Middlesex County and its Council of Business Partners partnered with: Rushford, a Hartford Healthcare Partner, EMPOWER, The First Tee of Connecticut, The Connecticut Association of Schools, LiveKind, and marriage and family therapist Elizabeth Shulman, LMFT to develop the Campaign for Bully-Free Communities.