Tag Archives: Lake Mary

Cheer for a Cause Launches 2012 Bully Free Zone Campaign “975 Saves Lives”

Lake Mary, FLORIDA–(June 1, 2012) In response to several incidents of bullying this year, in which at least two resulted in the bullied victim taking their own life, the nonprofit group CHEER FOR A CAUSE has launched a new Bully Free Zone campaign called “975 Saves Lives.”

975 Saves Lives“The phrase ’975 Saves Lives’ refers to House bill 975; The Anti-Bullying and Harassment Act of 2011 which was introduced in Congress and sent to committee more than a year ago,” said Julie Bolton, Cheer for a Cause’s founder.

Every month Cheer for a Cause highlights a different cause and June is Anti-Bullying month. As part of its 975 Saves Lives campaign, the nonprofit organization hopes to receive 50,000 signatures on a petition it has created at http://www.change.org/petitions/bully-free-zone-usa-975-saves-lives.

“While state laws have passed that establish a policy against bullying, the language of this bill is the first that takes the next step by not only defining what bullying is but by establishing a law that will punish those who bully and hold those in authority accountable,” Mrs. Bolton said. “It’s going to do to bullying in school what the sexual harassment laws did in the workforce…END it!”

Cheer for a CauseWith the catch phrase “975 Saves Lives” the Bully Free Zone campaign will bring attention to this little known bill, which is under review by Congress’s Committee on Education and the Workforce. The goal of this petition is to see H.R. 975 pass both the House and Senate and sent to the President of the United States to sign into law.

“At its present status it has a 2 percent chance of being enacted and that is unacceptable,” Mrs. Bolton said.

H.R. 975 is the Anti-Bullying and Harassment Act of 2011 – Amends the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act to require: (1) states to use grants for safe and drug-free schools to collect and report information on the incidence of bullying and harassment, and (2) local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools to use subgrants to prevent and respond to incidents of bullying and harassment. Requires such LEAs or schools to: (1) notify parents and students annually of conduct prohibited in their school discipline policies, that now must include bullying and harassment; and (2) establish complaint procedures for students and parents to register complaints regarding such conduct. Includes bullying and harassment within the Act’s definition of violence.

“With so many of our friends in the spirit world experiencing bullying, we think it’s time to put the ‘leader back in cheer’ and drive the movement across the country to pass House bill 975,” Mrs. Bolton said.

To sign the petition of support for House bill 975; The Anti-Bullying and Harassment Act of 2011, go to http://www.change.org/petitions/bully-free-zone-usa-975-saves-lives.

To learn more about H.R. 975 and its status, go to http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr975.

Cheer for a Cause is a nonprofit organization that works to create significant charitable impact by uniting the Spirit World to support causes affecting our global spirit family and encouraging individual, team and organization fundraising and volunteer projects. http://www.cheerforacause.org.

Cheer for a Cause Launches 2012 Bully Free Zone Campaign 975 Saves Lives

Cheer for a Cause Starts the Countdown to Purple Day for Epilepsy

Did you know that 1 in 100 people have epilepsy? That means if you have 100 kids at your gym or school, one of them is living with epilepsy. The cheer and dance community is joining Global Purple Day and wearing purple on March 26 to raise awareness and understanding.

Lake Mary, Florida, March 22, 2011 – Cheer for a Cause is uniting the Cheer and Dance World to wear purple on March 26 for epilepsy awareness – tons of teams have already signed up! The Anita Kaufmann Foundation of Nova Scotia, Canada, produced a brand new video for Cheer for a Cause to introduce us to Cassidy Megan and share why she created Purple Day.

Cassidy is a 12-year-old allstar cheerleader from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and cheers for West Halifax Cheer. Cassidy, who lives with epilepsy, created Purple Day for Epilepsy (Purple Day) held every year on March 26 to increase awareness and dispel myths about one of the most common neurological disorders.

Watch for the release of a new Cheer for a Cause video each day this week counting us down to Purple Day! You’ll also meet a three-time Morehead University national champion cheerleader who has seizures, Madison from Orlando Allstars who cheers and flies with epilepsy and others.

You can find links to all the videos, the Purple Day event and helpful information on the Cheer for a Cause website. The videos are also on Cheer for a Cause’s YouTube channel – cheerforacause. Subscribe to the page to ensure you do not miss a thing!

Julie Bolton, founder of Cheer for a Cause says, “A little love and understanding can change the world! Our cheer and dance community has such passion and certainly has the spirit to make it happen.”

Epilepsy affects three million Americans, 300,000 people in Canada and over 50 million people worldwide, which is more than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease combined. Despite its prevalence, epilepsy is not well understood and people with epilepsy continue to face social stigma and discrimination.

What’s your cause? Cheer for a Cause will support special needs teams in April and May, anti-bullying in June, our troops in July, safe driving in August and children’s cancer in September. Their website features the monthly section “Stories of Hope, Healing & Heart”. Teams and athletes are encouraged to share stories, send in photos and video. To partner on a cause or share your story, email weshare@cheerforacause.org.

Cheer for a Cause is a nonprofit corporation. Their mission is to unite the giving and giving back in the cheer and dance world, celebrate efforts to help others, unify support for athletes and teams experiencing tragedy and raise awareness and funds for causes. You can find Cheer for a Cause at www.cheerforacause.org, on facebook and twitter.

Cheer for a Cause Introduces Us to Patty & Cassidy, Supports Cheer Safety and Purple Day for Epilepsy

Patty will never walk or talk again. Three years ago, she was just 17 and her stunt group cradled her from a liberty. When they did, Patty was hit in the chest and her heart stopped. She went nearly 30 minutes without oxygen to her brain. And she needs our help.

Cassidy is a 12-year old cheerleader living with epilepsy. She created Purple Day for Epilepsy (Purple Day) held every year on March 26 to increase awareness and dispel myths about one of the most common neurological disorders.

Lake Mary, Florida, March 8, 2011 – This is Cheer Safety Month. In March, Cheer for a Cause will introduce us to Patty Phommanyvong and Cassidy Megan, and join our industry to support safety education, sportsmanship, Purple Day and epilepsy awareness.

Please help Cheer for a Cause provide a van for Patty’s family. Many may think of it as just another stunt, a liberty cradled on the sideline. But for Patty, this liberty was anything but routine. She had only cheered seven weeks, and this catch stopped her heart and changed her life forever. She is now unable to walk or talk or eat on her own. Her pending case is complicated and alleges a defibrillator was not working properly at her California high school and by the time an ambulance arrived and the EMT’s got her heart beating, nearly 30 minutes had passed. Her case also claims her coach was improperly trained and her stunt group was too inexperienced to perform the advanced stunt.

Patty’s family needs a reliable van to take her to and from doctor appointments. Her family of four lives in a small two-bedroom apartment. After the accident, Patty’s parents lost their tailoring business. Mom now works nights in a factory and dad stays home to care for Patty. The financial strain is tremendous.

Julie Bolton, founder of Cheer for a Cause said, “The heart of our Cheer World is at its most compassionate when one of our own is catastrophically injured.”

Cheer for a Cause is partnering with the National Cheer Safety Foundation and hopes to raise $20,000 in March to help Patty and her family get a van. You can find a link on the Cheer for a Cause website to make a tax-deductible gift. 100% of donations will go direct to the van fund.

Join the Cheer & Dance World on March 26 and Wear Purple for Epilepsy. Cassidy Megan is a 12-year-old allstar cheerleader from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and cheers for West Halifax Cheer. Cassidy, who lives with epilepsy, created Purple Day for Epilepsy (Purple Day) held every year on March 26 to increase awareness and dispel myths about one of the most common neurological disorders. Visit the Cheer for a Cause website to find more information about Purple Day, learn about epilepsy and find out what to do when someone has a seizure.

“Purple Day helps people understand that not all seizures are the same, and that people with epilepsy are ordinary people just like everybody else,” said Cassidy Megan, the founder of Purple Day. “Purple Day also reminds people living with epilepsy that they aren’t alone. That’s why we wear purple, the international colour for epilepsy.”

Epilepsy affects three million Americans, 300,000 people in Canada and over 50 million people worldwide, which is more than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease combined. Despite its prevalence, epilepsy is not well understood and people with epilepsy continue to face social stigma and discrimination.

What’s your cause? Cheer for a Cause will support special needs teams in April and May, anti-bullying in June, our troops in July, safe driving in August and children’s cancer in September. Their website features the monthly section “Stories of Hope, Healing & Heart”. Teams and athletes are encouraged to share stories, send in photos and video. To partner on a cause or share your story, email weshare@cheerforacause.org.

Cheer for a Cause is a nonprofit corporation. Their mission is to unite the giving and giving back in the cheer and dance world, celebrate efforts to help others, unify support for athletes and teams experiencing tragedy and raise awareness and funds for causes. You can find Cheer for a Cause at www.cheerforacause.org, on facebook and twitter.

Cheer for a Cause heads to Cheersport, Announces February Causes

Lake Mary, Florida, February 17, 2011 – Cheer for a Cause is busy uniting the giving and giving back in our Spirit World! This weekend they head to Atlanta to attend CHEERSPORT, the world’s largest cheerleading and dance competition. Look for Cheer for a Cause at the Nfinity boutique in the CHEERSPORT Mall. You can also find information at Inside Cheerleading Magazine and The Cheer Leader Magazine’s event booths.

Each month Cheer for a Cause features one or two causes that affect the lives of cheer and dance athletes. Themed to connect us with love for others and love for ourselves, February causes – Nfinity’s Win With Heart™ and Peyton’s Promise – support women’s heart health education and help families in need complete adoptions.

From Nfinity’s Win With Heart™ facebook page, “Win With Heart™ efforts promote education, knowledge and the empowerment of female athletes. We will give our Nfinity Athletes a head start on protecting themselves and the other women in their lives.”

Peyton’s Promise bridges forever families through the gift of adoption. On February 24-27 at the 2011 AmeriCup Nationals in Minneapolis, event producer UPA (United Performing Association, Inc.) will donate $1 from every athlete package sold and a percentage from gate receipts to the cause. There are additional opportunities to donate at the event and online! Every $3,500 collected helps complete an adoption.

Cheer for a Cause helped bring love and support to Cheer Florida Allstars and the Brady family, after 12-year old cheerleader Alina Brady passed away suddenly on February 8 from an unknown heart condition. On Valentines Day, teams from across the U.S.A. and around the world united to remember Alina by wearing red and a little purple. Purple was Alina’s favorite color. Visit the Cheer for a Cause website to read the story of this sweet angel. There’s a video made by her gym owner and links to her tribute page where you can leave condolences and messages of encouragement.

Upcoming causes will support injured athletes, epilepsy awareness and Wear Purple Day, special needs teams, anti-bullying, our troops and safe driving.

The Cheer for a Cause website features the monthly section “Stories of Hope, Healing & Heart”. Teams and athletes are encouraged to share stories, send in photos and video. To share your story or cause, email weshare@cheerforacause.org.

Cheer for a Cause is a nonprofit corporation. Their mission is to unite the giving and giving back in the cheer and dance world, celebrate efforts to help others, unify support for athletes and teams experiencing tragedy and raise awareness and funds for causes. You can find Cheer for a Cause on their website at www.cheerforacause.org, on facebook and twitter.

Cheer for a Cause heads to Cheersport, Announces February Causes

Lake Mary, Florida, February 17, 2011 – Cheer for a Cause is busy uniting the giving and giving back in our Spirit World! This weekend they head to Atlanta to attend CHEERSPORT, the world’s largest cheerleading and dance competition. Look for Cheer for a Cause at the Nfinity boutique in the CHEERSPORT Mall. You can also find information at Inside Cheerleading Magazine and The Cheer Leader Magazine’s event booths.

Each month Cheer for a Cause features one or two causes that affect the lives of cheer and dance athletes. Themed to connect us with love for others and love for ourselves, February causes – Nfinity’s Win With Heart™ and Peyton’s Promise – support women’s heart health education and help families in need complete adoptions.

From Nfinity’s Win With Heart™ facebook page, “Win With Heart™ efforts promote education, knowledge and the empowerment of female athletes. We will give our Nfinity Athletes a head start on protecting themselves and the other women in their lives.”

Peyton’s Promise bridges forever families through the gift of adoption. On February 24-27 at the 2011 AmeriCup Nationals in Minneapolis, event producer UPA (United Performing Association, Inc.) will donate $1 from every athlete package sold and a percentage from gate receipts to the cause. There are additional opportunities to donate at the event and online! Every $3,500 collected helps complete an adoption.

Cheer for a Cause helped bring love and support to Cheer Florida Allstars and the Brady family, after 12-year old cheerleader Alina Brady passed away suddenly on February 8 from an unknown heart condition. On Valentines Day, teams from across the U.S.A. and around the world united to remember Alina by wearing red and a little purple. Purple was Alina’s favorite color. Visit the Cheer for a Cause website to read the story of this sweet angel. There’s a video made by her gym owner and links to her tribute page where you can leave condolences and messages of encouragement.

Upcoming causes will support injured athletes, epilepsy awareness and Wear Purple Day, special needs teams, anti-bullying, our troops and safe driving.

The Cheer for a Cause website features the monthly section “Stories of Hope, Healing & Heart”. Teams and athletes are encouraged to share stories, send in photos and video. To share your story or cause, email weshare@cheerforacause.org.

Cheer for a Cause is a nonprofit corporation. Their mission is to unite the giving and giving back in the cheer and dance world, celebrate efforts to help others, unify support for athletes and teams experiencing tragedy and raise awareness and funds for causes. You can find Cheer for a Cause on their website at www.cheerforacause.org, on facebook and twitter.

Nfinity, Twist and Spirit Cheer Join Cheer for a Cause

Support for Cheer for a Cause grows as Nfinity Shoes, Twist: Canada’s Cheerleading Magazine, and Spirit Cheer will partner with the non-profit organization in 2011. Mike Pare joins as an advisory board member. Their December cause, helping the families of Midwest Cheer Elite, continues in January.

Lake Mary, Florida, January 7, 2010 – Nfinity, the industry leader in cheerleading shoes, Twist: Canada’s Cheerleading Magazine, and Spirit Cheer, an Orlando-based camp and competition company, each plan to partner with Cheer for a Cause in 2011 on endeavors to give back to the industry. Look for more announcements as the season progresses.

Thanks to the generosity of Spirit Cheer, now in its 11th season, Cheer for a Cause will be an exhibitor at three 2011 events in Florida. It’s partnerships like these that will grow their mission to make significant charitable impact in our industry. If you are an event producer and would like to help Cheer for a Cause attend your event, please email weshare@cheerforacause.org. Upcoming causes include special needs teams, sport injuries and epilepsy awareness, and an anti-bullying campaign.

Spirit Cheer’s President, Mike Pare, joins Cheer for a Cause as the newest member of their advisory board. Pare is UCA’s All Star Director and Assistant Cheerleading Coach at University of Central Florida. Mike also serves as the 2011 chairperson of the Spirit Industry Trade Association (SITA). “Mike is well known and respected in the cheer and dance world,” says Julie Bolton, Founder of Cheer for a Cause. “He’s a guy with a big heart too. His experience and understanding of our industry as a family is sure to grow our ability to inspire giving and help others.”

Cheer for a Cause’s “not-so-silent” auctions on eBay closed out on January 2nd a success! Nfinity donated six pairs of their newest shoe – the Phoenix, and three backpacks. Twist, a year’s subscription to the magazine and shirts from 10 different Canadian gyms. And many others joined, including Spiritville USA, the official shirt supplier for Midwest, and Funbows, a cheerleading bow company in the business for over 13 years. Several products remain to support Midwest, including the popular Cheer for a Cause tribute ribbons and mouse pads and bookmarks donated by Pickles & Popcorn. 100% of the proceeds of the December auctions will be donated to the Fifth Third Bank accounts for the Morris and Blair families. Find out more at www.cheerforacause.org.

Mike Stamper, the fiancé of Cindy Blair and Kenzy Blair’s soon-to-be step dad, sent a message to Cheer for a Cause. Mike shared, “After that day in November, that Saturday morning, I felt I would never see another Christmas with my girls. And now today I can say ‘Thank You’ to God for being blessed with a present such as this! That they are alive, they are making remarkable strides in recovery, yet they still are in great pain. They are now brace, crutch, cast, collar and wheelchair free!” Recent updates on both families are on Cheer for a Cause’s website. The site also features inspiring efforts to help others made by school teams and gyms during the holiday season.

Rayna Marques, of Canada’s Cheersport Sharks, and Whitney Love, of Kentucky Allstars, helped make a video to inspire their fellow athletes. It is posted on YouTube and you can link to it from Cheer for a Cause’s home page. Founder, Julie Bolton shared, “Inspiring and mobilizing our youth to make a difference in causes that affect their lives is exactly our mission. These two young women make us all proud.” Bolton is counting on others following. It’s global. Their site, donated by Jam Spirit Sites, includes pages for the U.S.A., Canada, Asia, Australia, Europe and Latin America.

Nfinity, Twist and Spirit Cheer Join Cheer for a Cause