Bow Ties Against Bullying Campaign:Statehouse

PROVIDENCE, RI — It could cost Coventry's Rep. Robert Nardolillo III a pretty penny Thursday, if everyone joins his 'Bow Ties Against Bullying' campaign at the Statehouse on Thursday. Nardolillo promised to donate $10 for every state representative who dons a bow tie. The money is going to Community Against Bullying in the Schools (CABINS, for short).

This is Nardolillo's third annual Bow Tie Against Bullying campaign. According to the press release from the Statehouse, CABINS is a Rhode Island organization.

Past bow tie campaign photos

"CABINS (Cabinsri.org) formed after a Rhode Island teenager committed suicide after being bullied by classmates," the press release indicates. "On June 13, 2006, 16-year-old Jeffrey Michalenka took his life after an upsetting day at school. Months later, a group of concerned moms and dads from Lincoln, Rhode Island formed CABINS to combat bullying. In 2010 and 2011, CABINS teamed up with the 3rd Eye Youth Crime Watch through the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office and funded middle and high school conferences to overcome bullying. Hundreds of students and teachers attended and created workshops to empower crime victims in various modes.

“CABINS is a wonderful organization and I am proud to join them in the fight to end bullying, and I encourage my colleagues in the General Assembly to participate along with me,” said Rep. Nardolillo. “Too many times, we have seen bullying, a destructive form of intimidation, lead to teen suicide. I hope this campaign, for the third straight year, brings additional awareness to this very real problem.”

He has promised photos of today's bow ties.

“I hope to see a sea of bow ties and scarves in support of this important fundraising effort to fight bullying,” said Rep. Nardolillo.