Monmouth anti-bullying leader nominated for Hero of the Month

Ginamarie Raimondo, the successful Freehold businesswoman who's devoting chapter two of her career to her Manalapan-based anti-bullying and leadership center is one of three candidates for February Hero of the Month through the New Jersey Heroes Foundation.

Raimondo is the founder and director of Bullying...We're Kickin' It, which teaches children as young as age two to apply the Golden Rule creatively for positive expression and conflict resolution.

Also nominated by New Jersey First Lady Mary Pat Christie's foundation are Lynn Azarchi, of the Kidsbridge Tolerance Center, Ewing, and Zach Certner of the Morristown-based Special Needs Athletic Programs (SNAP). Each is being recognized for their efforts on behalf of children and teens faced with intimdation or harassment.

Voting continues through Friday, February 26, 10AM, at the New Jersey Heroes Foundation web site. Tabulated results will be issued later the same day. Votes can be entered once each day.

Bullying...We're Kickin' It

In prepared comments, Foundation officials called the Bullying...We're Kickin' It center that GinaMarie opened in 2013 the only one of its kind in the country.

"GinaMarie's all-encompassing model reduces bullying at its core with myriad services improving the overall school and social climate. The Kickin' It Kids Center provides preschool programs, homeschool alternatives, afterschool workshops, summer camps, guardian workshops, mentoring, peer leadership and more."

Youngsters learn character analysis, respectful interaction, tolerance, acceptance, responsibility, empowerment, and appreciation of the cultures and mores of others. If houses workshops that all teachers are required to attend under New Jersey's anti-bullying laws.

"GinaMarie's passion and determination created this highly regarded groundbreaking organization. However, according to her it's because of the loyal supporters and dedicated individuals that make Kickin It so effective. Her humility and dedication are character traits of inspirational leadership and heroism," the Foundation noted.

Kidsbridge Tolerance Center

Lynne Azarchi, who founded Kidsbridge 13 years ago and continues to lead it, is described by the Foundation as a "genuine change agent" for her implementation of evidence-based curricula and activities aimed at redefining futures of kids who live with the emotional and physical consequences of intimidation and harassment for being unique or different.

"Lynne saw early on how the dismissive attitude of "kids just being kids" was leading to genuinely painful consequences for children, teens and parents. So partnering with her Kidsbridge Board, she led the charge to do something about it, creating the only youth tolerance center in the United States," the Foundation said.

"Each year, more than 2,500 kids and 300 educators interact in small group discussions that focus on empathy, empowerment, stereotype knowledge, diversity awareness, moral reasoning, and respect. To date, more than 25,000 youth and their educators have learned the strategies needed to 'stand up and speak out.'"

Her programs to train individuals to be "UPstanders rather than bystanders" include the annual Walk2Stop Bullying and award competitions for students and teachers.

SNAP's "Kindness Is Cool" Program

SNAP, founded by Zach and Matthew Certner, has offered free and low-cost programs for social and athletic development to special needs families for the past decade.

The senstivity training guide they developed six years ago features workshops designed to promote acceptance of autistic and disabled youths, with props such as blindfolds and balance balls to illustrate what it means to cope with a disability.

"The Interactive Autism Network reported that 63% of children with autism (ages 6-15) have experienced bullying at some point in their lives. This program aims to lower that statistic and help put an end to bullying through education," Certner said in a release.

"Our program "Kindness is Cool" aims to educate third graders (the age we have deemed as most receptive) throughout Morris, Passaic, Somerset, and Sussex counties. Most children know someone with autism, however many of those same children cannot tell you what autism is. Our e-learning (online education seminars) serve as a kid-friendly, hands-on educational tool for students to see what life is like in the shoes of children with disabilities."