Long Island Mom Takes Stand To 'Wipe Out Bullying'

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — A Southampton mom is taking a stand against bullying.

Ashley Agron, the president and founder of "Wipe Out Bullying," said her not-for-profit organization aims to prevent bullying and promote a safe and inclusive environment in schools by addressing the root causes of bullying, such as issues at home, and y providing support to both bullies and victims.

The Hamptons group will be hosting local lectures at schools to raise awareness about bullying prevention and to provide tools and resources to students, teachers, and parents, she said. The organization will also provide funding for the distribution of bully prevention tools at schools, as well as offering training to teachers and raising funds for schools to have additional counselors and hotlines.

“The organization couldn’t have come at a better time. I’m a local Hamptons' resident, and I think that bullying leads to dangerous outcomes, and even suicidal behavior," one parent told her, Agron said.

“Bullying is a serious issue that affects countless students and communities across the country,” Agron said.

For Agron, the issue is deeply personal. As a mother, she said she was afraid of what was happening in the United States in regard to bullying, school shootings, suicides related to cyberbullying, and kids being tormented or even injured.

"Enough is enough," she said.

Her daughter, who is in first grade, has experienced bullying already, she said. She has tried to educate her child on how to handle bullying so that she doesn't become a victim. "She has become an advocate against it," Agron said.

When she was bullied, her daughter felt "terrible," Agron said. "It made her feel singled out."

And, she said, as a mother, she knew she had to work for change. "I'm her protector," she said. "I've been bullied as a kid and I'm sure everyone has had an incident — and I know the lifelong effects it has on people's mental health. I do not want that to happen to her."

"Wipe Out Bullying" strives to prepare kids for bullying and imbue them with the tools to handle those situations, should they arise, she said.

"The mission is to educate kids on how to spot a bully and how to handle it. I feel everyone should be notified. Put everyone on alert. If a kid says, 'Don't tell anybody', it's a red flag to tell everybody."

The organization, she said, will educate, spreading the word that bullying can lead to depression, suicide, and retaliation, she said.

"We have resources to offer schools and educators to come to schools to lecture on bullying," she said.

Agron also said her plans include engaging teams of physicians and mental health experts who will be available to help 24/7.

Her mission, she said, is urgent. "People are experiencing school lockdowns due to kids that have been bullied to the point where they are now retaliating. It now affects everyone involved. All the students, all the teachers —fear in everyone."

Her daughter, Agron said, is "a great listener and understands that the kids that may seem rough with her — that stems from something else. Problems at home can lead to kids lashing out at other kids at school because of their unhappiness. If you understand the bully and the bullied, we can help both sides to learn how to promote a happier and healthier lifestyle for all."

Bullying can lead to physical and emotional impacts, she said. "It is so damaging," she said. "It needs to end. I want to help kids and people lead better lives with the knowledge we provide."

Wipe Out Bullying is a 501(c)(3) and donations are tax-deductible, she said.

Through the tools Agron has embraced to empower children, her own daughter has become a more confident, happier and mentally healthier child — and has learned to stand up for herself, she said.

"And we want to help other children and young adults reach the same achievements," she said.

A GoFundMe page to raise funds for Wipe Out Bullying has also been created.

For more information about the Hamptons Chapter of Wipe Out Bullying and to support the anti-bullying initiative, click here.

To donate to the GoFundMe, click here.

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