Animate! Miami Collaborates With Free2Luv To Stand Up To Bullying During Bullying Prevention Month

Oct. 6, 2015 - PRLog -- Animate! Miami, Florida's largest anime and animation convention held October 23-25, 2015, is joining forces with anti-bullying nonprofit Free2Luv® during Bullying Prevention Month in October to raise awareness and empower the public to stand up against bullying. Free2Luv Youth Advocate, actor and Animate! Miami special guest, Jason Drucker is also speaking up about bullying prevention and the importance of taking a stand.

“Geek culture conventions like Animate! Miami and Florida Supercon are, at their core, meant to be places of acceptance for fans that can't express their passions in their normal day-to-day lives. Going back to the first sci-fi convention in 1939, shows like these are meant to be a place to get your geek on, free from judgment and harassment. I'm thrilled to be working with Free2Luv, as their mission aligns closely with the values of our events. I think it’s important to spread the message that it’s ok to be yourself, and that it’s not cool to bully others because they're different,“ said Mike Broder, founder of Animate! Miami and Florida Supercon.

“We are really excited about partnering with Florida Supercon and sharing our message of rocking individuality with their audience.  We are passionate about reaching youth where they are whether it’s online or at awesome conventions such as Animate! Miami.  We want every person to know that they’re perfect just the way they are, said Tonya Sandis, Co-Founder and President of youth empowerment nonprofit, Free2Luv.

9-year-old Jason Drucker, star of Nickelodeon’s Every Witch Way and the film Barely Lethal, is an important voice in the Free2Luv organization.  “Bullying is not funny, it’s not a game, it’s not about who wins or loses. In the end, the bully and victim both lose. If I can make a difference in one person’s life, then I know it is all worth it,” says Drucker.

With the rise in teen suicides and 1 out of every 3 children experiencing some form of bullying, Free2Luv is on a #MillionSignMission to bring awareness and solidarity to bullying prevention. At Animate! Miami, guests will be invited to join friends across the globe, stand up, take photos with a “Friends Don’t Let Friends Bully” sign and share via social media with #Free2Luv. To learn more about the Million Sign Mission, click here (http://free2luv.org/print-your-sign/).

Free2Luv will be spreading its message of rockin’ kindness and bullying prevention at Animate! Miami, which draws a large percentage of kids and teens. The convention takes place October 23-25, 2015 at the Miami Airport Convention Center located at the Doubletree Hotel, 711 NW 72nd Ave, Miami FL 33126. To view the complete and up-to-date list of activities at the convention, click here (https://register.growtix.com/schedule/animate_miami_2015).

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About Free2Luv

Free2Luv® takes the bullied to brave, heals hurts & builds dreams, so no child is left feeling alone, unwanted or hopeless. It is a youth empowerment organization dedicated to rockin' individuality, spreading kindness and standing up to bullying through arts and entertainment. Through community outreach and awareness campaigns, the organization helps to bring communities together, positions healthy role models for our youth and empowers youth to be kinder, more responsible citizens of the community. You can join the movement and stand up to bullying with Free2Luv. Visit http://free2luv.org and learn how you can be an agent for change or visit them on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/FREE2LUV.Inc) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/free_2_luv).

About Animate! Miami

Animate! Miami (http://www.animatemiami.com) is Florida’s largest convention for anime and animation, with three days featuring some of the industry’s biggest names, celebrities, cosplayers, comedians, entertainers, and more. There will be hundreds of events, including panels, Q&As, costume contests, video gaming, comedy shows, exhibitors, artists, and more for all ages. To learn more about Animate! Miami (formerly Anime Supercon / Animation Supercon), click here (http://www.animatemiami.com/p/about.html). The event is produced by the team at Super Conventions, the organizers of the South Florida comic conventions, Animate! Miami, Florida Supercon (http://www.floridasupercon.com) and Magic City Comic Con (http://magiccitycomiccon.com). Mike Broder originally founded the first Florida Supercon (currently the largest comic convention in South Florida) to fill a void in the South Florida geek culture scene, and he has since launched Animate! Miami and Magic City Comic Con.