National Voices For Equality, Education & Enlightenment To Raise Funds for School Violence Outreach

July 30, 2010 - PRLog -- FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The National Voices for Equality, Education, and Enlightenment (NVEEE) will hold a series of events to spread awareness about school bullying, hate crimes, and to assist with their community outreach programs, including Josie Lou Ratley’s rehabilitation. The 15-year-old was severely beaten by another student at Deerfield Beach Middle School in March.

NVEEE will join forces with Gallery 101 in downtown Fort Lauderdale to host "Dance the Hate Away” Saturday, July 31 from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.  Gallery 101 is located at 501 N. Andrews Avenue, Suite 103, Fort Lauderdale.

With catering donated by Galanga Thai and Sushi, the fundraiser will benefit NVEEE’s programs focused on teens affected by bullying, hate crimes, and heinous acts of violence. During the event, Sweet Treat Creations will unveil a unique life-sized disco cake.  At the Gallery, each patron is asked donate at least $5.00 at the door.

"The arts community is a family, and one of our own, Josie, a brilliant anime artist, is in trouble and needs our support, she doesn't even need to ask,” said Adam White, the owner of Gallery 101. “I have been a supporter of NVEEE from the beginning.  I believe in their cause, and I feel honored to be in a position where I can support their "Peace for a Day" campaign and Josie at the same time. Gallery 101 will remain a drop-off location for anyone wishing to donate to Josie's fund.”

NVEEE has played an instrumental role in Josie’s recovery by providing multiple ways for people to show their support.  It has set up an Amazon Wish List, which has provided the opportunity for people worldwide to donate specific items that were handpicked by Ratley’s mother Hilda Gotay to aid in the teen’s rehabilitation. To participate, go to http://www.amazon.com/wishlist and type “Josie Lou Ratley” in the search box.

Through the Amazon Wish List, Ratley received a Nintendo Wii Fit to aid with her balance recovery.

Others wishing to make contributions can do in the following ways:

Mail in donations to:
NVEEE / Josie Lou Ratley
PO BOX 23837
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305

Credit Card Donations:
Go to nveee.org and Click on "How You Can Help" a picture of Josie will appear. It gives you the option to donate via PayPal.

Visit any Wachovia Branch and donate to the “Josie Lou Ratley Fund.”

Call NVEEE: 954-561-2626

About NVEEE
Founded in October of 2009, NVEEE was conceived as a response to the increasing levels of bullying, violence, and suicide among middle and high school students. We are composed of a team of individuals dedicated to bringing awareness to hate crimes and heinous acts being committed by and against school-aged children on a daily basis. We aim to eliminate bullying and victimization, whether it is by peer-on-peer ignorance, bystanderism, or institutional intolerance.

To learn more about the organization, please visit our website: www.nveee.org.

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