Take a Stand Against Bullying” benefit in Newmarket Feb. 15, 2013

Feb. 13, 2013 - PRLog -- Local musician, Dana Williams and event organizers present, “Are you aware? Take a stand against bullying,” a night of music and information to raise awareness of bullying in York Region and raise funds for the York Region Anti-bullying Coalition (http://www.yorkregionanti-bullying.org/). The event is being held at 7 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013 at the Newmarket Legion, 707 Srigley St., Newmarket, ON.

Dana Williams co-founded the event after hearing the story of Port Coquitlam, B.C., teenager Amanda Todd, who took her own life as a result of bullying. “I was very moved by her story and wanted to do something to help her family,” says Williams. “Then my friend Liz informed me it’s a local issue as well -- people right here in York Region have fallen to the same fateful outcome due to bullying.”

Liz took the issue to heart, as her daughter had been a victim of bullying. Sarah, her daughter, has formerly spoken out about the issue by presenting a speech on bullying to classmates. “I was pretty nervous to speak in front of my class but I got up there and did it because I knew how important this topic was and that people needed to know about it,” says Sarah. “I was not scared and I got my point across to the judges, teachers and most importantly the students.”

Williams approached concert promoter Josh Gottlieb and together with Liz, Ling Lamb and Karen Sebben, they organized the benefit concert. “Our goal is to open the dialogue about bullying and its effects,” says Williams. “We want to raise awareness of the support available to people facing bullying.”

Event attendees will hear music by David Henman, The Elwins, Taylor Knox, The Socials, and more. They will also hear from anti-bullying guest speakers Daniel Sebben and Randy Ketterling. A full list of all presenters and performers is found on the event Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/events/417217958355282/).

“We hope to attract local teens and parents as well as anyone who hopes to make a difference in this issue. We want to encourage people to get involved in whatever way they can to raise awareness of the potential impact of bullying,” says Williams. It is an All Ages/19+ event with wristband access.

Williams thanks the many organizations and individuals who have come together to support the benefit, including: Prime Data (http://www.primedata.ca/), a local variable data company and Williams’ employer; Frontier Sound and Light (http://www.frontiersoundandlight.com/), who donated the sound system; Dan Preston of Danosound (http://www.facebook.com/Danosound), who donated professional sound engineer services; and Josh Gottlieb, who has been instrumental in securing the bands and organizing the event.

All event proceeds go to the York Region Anti-bullying Coalition, who’s primary goals include creating awareness of bullying, assisting those who have been affected by bullying and researching what school boards outside of York are doing to successfully reduce the amount of bullying.

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for more information: contact Josh Gottlieb at 905-392-1532 or Dana Williams at 905-251-3029 and visit the event Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/events/417217958355282/).