Woronchak Provides County Grant For Anti-Bullying Program

As final preparations are made for the Dearborn Public Schools September 14 Anti-Bullying Extravaganza event, a leading Wayne County official has stepped up to provide a needed component for the overall effort – funding.

Wayne County Commission Chairman Gary Woronchak has secured a $20,000 county grant which will be formally announced at the Anti-Bullying Extravaganza on Wednesday, September 14, at 6 p.m. in the Michael A. Guido Auditorium at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.

"As word got out about the school district and city's anti-bullying efforts, around the same time as we were putting final touches on the county budget, it seemed to me that this program would fit perfectly with the prevention services grants," said Commissioner Woronchak, himself a product of Dearborn Public Schools.

Woronchak explained that the funding is a county PASS grant. PASS (Prevention Action Services System) provides grants for programs that help young people develop academically and socially and to avoid the juvenile justice system. The county's 2011-12 budget, which was approved by the commission last month, included funding for the grants through the Department of Children and Family Services.

School officials were pleased to learn of the grant and expressed gratitude to Woronchak for taking the initiative and quick action to obtain the funds.

"In working to put this plan together over the last year, organizers came up with many good ideas and concepts to address bullying, but some seemed out of reach because funding was going to be limited with tight budgets in the school district and city," said Superintendent Brian Whiston.

"Commissioner Woronchak bringing this unexpected grant to us just as we're about to kick off the program is going to give us great momentum going forward," he added.

Parents, students, staff and elected officials are expected to attend the Anti-Bullying Extravaganza. Channel 7 reporter Anu Prakash will emcee the event and the Honorable Judge Kathleen McCarthy will deliver a short keynote address. Entertaining guest before the event and taking part in the big finale will be Pistons team mascot Hooper, Tigers mascot Paws, and from the Detroit Lions, Roary.

Students will present videos they created that capture the anti-bullying theme, district-wide curriculum will be reviewed, and a "Response to Bullying Behavior" poster contest will be announced. The winning poster will be distributed and displayed at schools, shops, and homes throughout the city.