“Bully” director Lee Hirsch honored by National Center for Learning Disabilities
In this photo taken by AP Images for National Center for Learning Disabilities, David Long, Tina Long, and "Bully" director Lee Hirsch are seen at the National Center for Learning Disabilities’ 35th Annual Benefit Dinner at the Mandarin Hotel on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 in New York City. Hirsch encouraged parents to download NCLD's anti-bullying toolkit available at http://specialneeds.thebullyproject.com. The toolkit was released in conjunction with "Bully."
NEW YORK – Lee Hirsch, director of the powerful documentary “Bully,” was honored Wednesday night at The National Center for Learning Disabilities’ 35th annual benefit dinner at the Mandarin Oriental hotel.
During remarks, Hirsch urged Americans to move from awareness to action, citing an anti-bullying toolkit just introduced by NCLD that gives children, parents and educators immediate means to open dialogues and help save lives.
Among the evening’s special guests were David and Tina Long, whose anti-bullying advocacy to honor their son’s memory is chronicled in Hirsch’s film, which also features three families that now live in Oklahoma.
Paula Zahn served as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies. Mayor Bloomberg, Anne Ford and Paul LeClerc were also in attendance. The event was chaired by philanthropist Nancy Poses.
Also honored Wednesday night for their extraordinary work in child advocacy were Dan Tishman, chairman and CEO of Tishman Construction Corporation, and his wife Sheryl, and Dr. Stevan J. Kukic, who was given the Distinguished Education Achievement Award.
A lead supporter of “Bully,” NCLD has a long-term commitment to helping families understand and deal with bullying.The NCLD reports that 25 percent of school-age children report having been seriously bullied, a proportion that swells to 60 percent for children with learning disabilities such as dyslexia and other special needs, according to findings by Ability Path. The Longs’ late son, Tyler, was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction.
“’Bully’ the film is one part of a growing, national effort to inspire positive change toward eradicating an epidemic in this country,” said Hirsch. “Committed partners like NCLD and resources like its anti-bullying toolkit are vital to this effort.”
“The sad fact remains that millions of kids are bullied every day, and children with special needs like our son Tyler are all the more vulnerable,” said Tina Long. “We want to thank NCLD for sharing our understanding and determination to end bullying, and are urge parents, educators, and anyone who cares about kids’ well-being, to access this toolkit.”
The anti-bullying toolkit is available at http://specialneeds.thebullyproject.com/toolkit.
I strongly recommend that parents, teens and educators see “Bully.” To read my review, click here.
-BAM
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Lee Hirsch was on The Wease Show this morning. “Bully” opens in Rochester, NY today!