Barger & Gaines is proud to be a Hero sponsor of the Walkathon to End Bullying, hosted by the Teen Kindness Board (TKB) of the Be A Friend Project and taking place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Valhalla Campus of Westchester Community College.

The walkathon, and multiple satellite walks taking place until Oct. 31, supports the efforts of the Be A Friend Project’s national network of student ‘Upstanders’ working to save the lives of their bullied peers and build kinder communities using empathy, education and the arts. The initiative takes place during National Bullying Prevention Month.

So far, $10,917 has been raised toward the goal of $22,000. Go to this page https://givebutter.com/BAFPwalk if you want to register to walk and get a T-shirt for $20, join the BAFP as a peer-to-peer fundraiser and start getting pledges, make a donation to support a team member, or create their own team and start fundraising.

If you want to plan your own satellite walk, go here http://bit.ly/4nUQOvM, and those who would like to join Barger & Gaines as a sponsor may do so here: http://bit.ly/46NJU5g

“After a decade of interviewing parents of our Friend Mail Recipients to learn their children’s stories, we at the BAFP know just how vital a law firm like Barger & Gaines truly is for support, guidance, safety and healing,” the BAFP said in a Facebook post thanking the firm for its Hero sponsorship. “We are honored to walk with their support at our October 18th 3rd annual Walkathon to End Bullying.” http://bit.ly/3Wq3ONT

At Barger & Gaines, we specialize in education law and are dedicated to ensuring every student has the support they need to succeed. See the firm’s website to learn more https://www.bargergaines.com and contact us for a consultation at (914) 902-5918, ext. 114.

The BAFP is a “kids for kids” nonprofit, and the national Teen Kindness Board helps guide new initiatives and programming. Its Friend Mail Program delivers surprise peer support with empathetic words and art to survivors of severe bullying to help them stay strong and know they are not alone – and school and community-based Kindness Clubs celebrate and cultivate acts of bullying prevention and kindness activism. Learn more here: https://www.beafriendproject.org

The Be A Friend Project was founded in 2015 by business partners and playwrights Jennifer Young and January Akselrad (composer), to carry into action the "speak up, reach out and be a friend” message of their 8x Broadway World Award-winning middle school show, "IT'S EASY! The Friend Strong Musical."

Jennifer incorporated the BAFP as a non-profit 501c3 in 2019, guiding the “KIDS FOR KIDS” organization of student bullying prevention & kindness activists to the international presence it has today.