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Bullied Bus Monitor Karen Klein Gives $100,000 to Launch Anti-Bullying Foundation

Remember Karen Klein, the bullied bus monitor from Greece, New York, who made international headlines earlier this year after a video showing middle school children harassing her went viral (read her story here)? After a modest Internet campaign that was launched in her support churned in a whopping $702,684 (the goal was $5,000), the former public school district employee has big plans for a portion of her new-found fortune.

Bullied Bus Monitor Karen Klein Launches Foundation Against Bullying

Karen Klein (Photo Credit: FILE)

While she could very easily hold onto every penny of the money that was raised in her favor, the bus monitor has decided to pour $100,000 into anti-bullying initiatives. To facilitate this goal, she has created the Karen Klein Anti-Bullying Foundation.

In the wake of the intense media coverage surrounding the abuse waged against her, the 68-year-old has officially retired and she’s now pouring her energy into mechanisms that will help prevent the very abuse she was so publicly subjected to.

The foundation will officially kick-off in October at which time Klein will join others for a weekly, anti-bullying tour. Her daughter, Amanda, explained that this initiative is something that Klein has always wanted to do and that the foundation will provide funding to organizations and charities that fight against bullying.

According to CNN, Amanda also said that Miss Teen USA Logan West and Miss Universe Leila Lopes will both be involved in the foundation’s efforts. On the group’s GiveBack.org web site, Klein also announced that she’s organizing a “No Bully Tour 2012” awareness campaign — a music tour aimed at urging children to treat one another well.

“The goal of the anti-bullying campaign is to help teach kids and teens about being kind, friendly and playing nicely with others,” Klein explains in a special video on the foundation’s web site.

Watch a trailer that explains the foundation, below:

On her foundation’s web site, Klein outlines her foundation’s four main goals:

  • Provide Funds for anti-bullying counseling in schools across the country and around the world
  • Create educational curriculum that will teach about Bullying and what each of us can do to stop it
  • Support great organizations that are bringing awareness to the anti-bullying movement
  • Develop new media assets that will serve the cause of anti-bullying

“As a mother and a grandmother, there are several saying that I have tried to live by and things that I have tried to teach my children and grandchildren,” Klein writes on the web site. “These are words I think we can all learn to embrace as a way of life that will help stop bullying across America – Dream, Hope, Live with Integrity, Live, Love, Laugh, Love Like You Mean It, Embrace Change, Expect miracles, Love Others Well.”

Learn more about the Karen Klein Anti-Bullying Foundation here.

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Comments (46)

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  • suz
    Posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:07pm

    uh, we don’t need to throw money at that.

    we need to teach the parents how to teach their kids not to bully and in turn, the teachers would follow that lead.

    none of that costs money.

    her heart’s in the right place but the remedy, like most remedy’s that come from these kinds of ridiculous foundations, don’t succeed.

    Report Post » suz  
  • MAX0O1
    Posted on August 27, 2012 at 7:26pm

    GOOD for her! GOD Bless!

    Report Post »  
  • just_around
    Posted on August 27, 2012 at 5:05pm

    There’s no bite behind any such “anti-bullying” campaign when parents aren’t allowed to spank, teachers aren’t allowed to punish, and we don’t allow kids being bullied to fight back. No wonder bullying is more prevalent – no one has the backbone to stop them in the language they understand: physical beat down.

    Report Post »  
    • Cemoto78
      Posted on August 27, 2012 at 10:14pm

      Can’t argue with that.

      Report Post » Cemoto78  
    • stumpy68
      Posted on August 28, 2012 at 7:46am

      I hit 6′ 1″ at 12 i was attacked daily at school by
      kids who wanted to show off to their friends by knocking down
      this huge easy going bookish kid alone or more often in groups
      it didn’t stop until i tossed a few of the leaders around if that happened now
      i would likely have been arrested for defending myself

      Report Post » stumpy68  
  • HateTN
    Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:43pm

    I firmly believe there is a time and place for violence. When humans are treating another human this way is one of those instances. If that had been my granny/mother, Id have beat the hell out of those kids, and I GUARANTEE you, the a** beating would work exponentially better than putting them in “timeout”, giving them a mental evaluation, talking to them about it, or some other worthless hippy form of “disciplining” a child.

    Report Post »  
  • dbuehler
    Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:09pm

    I am glad to see that she retired. Everyone acts like she is a hero for being bullied. Her job was to protect the kids on the bus from being bullied and she couldn’t even protect herself. How many kids got bullied on that bus while under her supervision? If she couldn’t do the job she should have had the decency to step down and give it to someone who could. She failed the other kids on that bus!!!

    Report Post »  
    • rcbCAL
      Posted on August 27, 2012 at 5:20pm

      “Nothing in the world is more dangerous than a sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” MLK

      Report Post »  
  • WakeUpAmerica1776
    Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:04pm

    Good for her. I am glad to see her do some good with the blessing that has been given to her.

    Report Post » WakeUpAmerica1776  
  • blair152
    Posted on August 27, 2012 at 2:22pm

    Good. I’m glad to see that a little good is coming out of this.

    Report Post »  
  • LameLiberals
    Posted on August 27, 2012 at 2:05pm

    She ALLOWED hundreds of kids on the bus SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO MONITOR to be bullied for all the years she worked as a bus monitor.

    She should SPLIT every cent the SHEEPLE gave her with the students who were bullied because SHE DID NOT do her job.

    Report Post »  
  • kbuffin
    Posted on August 27, 2012 at 1:44pm

    The cynicism that so many of you write with regarding this article is over the top. Stop just for a moment and ask yourself could this just be an example of “all things working for your good”. That no “weapon formed against you” truth. Hopefully the money that she has set aside will also go to helping the bullies themselves. Wouldn’t that be the ultimate irony that only God himself could coordinate?

    Report Post »  
  • Valuable
    Posted on August 27, 2012 at 1:41pm

    While I think that there should be organizations to counter bullying, I wonder if we need another one?? Why do we always thing that we have to reinvent the wheel?? I’m 100% sure that there are ones already doing amazing work and have been for years. They could essentially do 2 or 3 times as much with the $100,000 because they have been at it knowing what works and what doesn’t.

    Also, we will always have bullying and mean people. I taught in public schools where we had programs galore trying to teach values but if it isn’t taught and lived out at home, it isn’t going to stick for long. However, I do think that very nice and good parents can have a child as mean as a snake since we do have our own personalities.

    Report Post »  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on August 27, 2012 at 1:07pm

    The kids that were bullied and picked on, grew up to become liberal democrats………also they are usually homely, so that is the root of their anger and quest for “ social justice ”……………….

    Report Post »  
    • I Luv America
      Posted on August 27, 2012 at 6:12pm

      Not true. I was bullied and picked on as a kid, and I grew up to be a conservative.

      Report Post »  
  • lizaz
    Posted on August 27, 2012 at 12:34pm

    If this campaign or any anti-bullying effort is to be successful, it must target parents as well as kids. It’s parents who can teach their children (from a very young age) to have respect for others, to share, to compliment, to have self esteem and to respect the adults in their lives, teachers, neighbors, etc. Parents are really the key to eradicating this phenomena….teachers can’t help if they are not respected by the students. I remember as a child, my parents did not allow us kids to address even their closest friends by their first name…it was always “Mr.“ or ”Mrs.”. I know that probably sounds inane now, but I think it taught us to have respect for adults. Oh well, off the soapbox!!!

    Report Post »  
    • jerimiah41
      Posted on August 27, 2012 at 1:10pm

      Has anyone really thought about all of this. For an hour(not even) of just terrible harrassment by a bunch of bullies, this worman becomes weathly almost overnight and has the gall to say her life has not changed. I really felt bad like most people do. Mostly mine comes from compassion for all my brothers and sisters. We, trying to just live out our beliefs we get more bullying from the press and atheists, etc. that this woman endured for a very short period and she was not prepared to forgive them when asked to. This is a crazy country in a way and this would only happen in America. And our Leader does not believe America is anything deserving special. May God Bless America.

      Report Post »  
    • Sorionc
      Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:18pm

      Speaking of sharing I’m coming to town this week. Could you please share your car so I don’t have to rent one. And maybe some of your cash and food I‘ll be there for a little but I’ll bring it back

      Report Post »  
  • TheyMustBeStopped
    Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:47am

    The entire anti-bullying movement is nothing more than a clever Trojan horse for the mainstreaming of homosexuality in our culture.

    Report Post » TheyMustBeStopped  
  • mtnhimike
    Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:35am

    Give it a rest folks this lady is doing what she thinks is the right thing to do with Money that she never expected to get and I am proud of the fact that she is trying to help some kids out the best she can. I would like to think that anyone in her place would do the same thing but the fact is that most would not. Let her do her thing. Go Karen !

    Report Post »  
  • The Jewish Avenger
    Posted on August 27, 2012 at 10:05am

    I appreciate the fact that tons of support poured out for this woman….

    But this is over the top…

    Hey my kid was bullied today! Where is my half a mil?

    Report Post » The Jewish Avenger  
    • mtnhimike
      Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:32am

      You would probably keep it and spend it on vacations and drugs and never ever think about giving back to help others. Your are a selfish person.

      Report Post »  
  • The Jewish Avenger
    Posted on August 27, 2012 at 10:04am

    Great, start with all the blacks ganging up on the white minorities in ghetto school zones…
    Wait… what?
    uh… nvm, everything is fine…

    Report Post » The Jewish Avenger  
  • Brock
    Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:24am

    I will just repeat this one quote. “Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child”. Abandoning this tenet was one of the first steps that put America on the road that has led to so many of our current woes. Prison over population, disrespect for adults, no sense of responsibility, or–and perhaps this is worse–no sense of Duty. Not to others, and not to our Nation. TV shows like Survivor and Big Brother have taught that ‘giving one’s word’ is nothing more than an exploitable weakness, and now we are paying the price because kids have no sense of honor either.

    Report Post » Brock  
  • Dolt
    Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:21am

    Remember when The Blaze did a hit piece on the gentleman who started this fund? They smeared his name and said he was running a scam. I called them on it at the time… I even directly emailed the author of that article. No response was received. The Blaze has yet to retract or apologize for a blatant, unfounded attack on a man who was trying to do something nice and decent for this woman. I thought “truth matters”? ??? ??? ????

    I am saddened and disappointed. I thought the reason Glenn Beck started this site was to prevent this exact sort of thing that happens on all the other similar sites. I was wrong. It was just to skew the stories into his view. Glenn, I am very upset. I was a huge fan. Froggy 109.9 – now those were the days. This stuff that goes on today … it’s not the Glenn I used to know.

    Report Post »  
  • watashbuddyfriend
    Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:16am

    Karen Klein, I surely hope your $100,000 contribution will be handled properly. So many Foundations do not have proper internal controlls over receipt and distribution, liken unto Federal Government!

    Report Post »  
  • Tex Expatriate
    Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:15am

    Kids harassing a fat old woman is not bullying. Bullying is when a kid or kids focus on another kid to harass him physically or mentally, and always cruelly. The Blaze should not be a party to the dumbing down of language.

    The solution to bullying is for one or more kids to stand up against the bully or bullies and stomp the daylights out of him/them. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever has been. World without end. Amen.

    Report Post »  
    • GrayPanther
      Posted on August 27, 2012 at 10:02am

      “Harassing an old fat woman” is not bullying? Having fights to settle a possible bullying is the answer? I believe your comments are way out of line.When I was a kid in a rural area of Michigan, I was often picked on by a much bigger kid on the way home from school. A neighbor of mine told me to “hit him with your lunch bucket Tommie”. Well the next time he pushed me around I did hit him with my lunch pail. It worked. He never bothered me again. However, I don’t like to think this is the proper way to “teach” kids to behave. Perhaps a phone call to his parents or a school meeting would have been more civilized. Comprendy Tex?

      Report Post » GrayPanther  
    • TEXASGRANNY73
      Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:21am

      Harassing a fat old woman or a skinny old woman or a beautiful young woman or a homely woman or a kid or kids or a skinny old man or a fat old man or a helpless old man or a famous person or a meek person or a smart person or a dumb person or a political person or a non political person or a rich person or a poor person or a skilled person or a neighbor person or a visiting person or a foreign person or a white skinned person or a dark skinned person or a bald person or a you get my drift person is harassing. Loving your neighbor as yourself cures it.

      Report Post »  
    • HateTN
      Posted on August 27, 2012 at 3:38pm

      I dont know what dictionary you got your meaning of “bullying” from, but you dont have to be a kid to be a bully or be bullied. I do believe that you stop bullying by violence. If that was my granny, Ida stomped the hell outa those brats. I bet that would stop them from any bullying in the future better than a “timeout” or some other hippy ways of discipline, that don’t work at all.

      Report Post »  
  • MrButcher
    Posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:40am

    Waste of money.

    Bullying has been around since the beginning of time. It’s not going away.

    Children need to learn how to stand up to bullies and to defend others they see being bullied.

    Often times the children who are doing the bullying do so out their own insecurity. They join in with others who bully in order to feel “part of the group.” They shouldn’t be vilified or made into public enemies through viral videos because they are too young and stupid to know better. Obviously parenting plays a role but so does societal influences, etc.

    We don’t need another “non-profit” trying to criminalize childhood foolishness.

    Children benefit much more from learning how to stand up for themselves especially when they are threatened or being intimidated. It is a vital life lesson that can’t be taught, only experienced.

    Report Post » MrButcher  
  • stopprintn
    Posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:39am

    Great, the birth of another leftist anti-first amend. advocy group, using the charitable gifts of conservitives…….backfire

    Report Post »  
  • Beachbaby
    Posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:38am

    Tax shelter. DUH This woman is stupid. I understand why her son offed himself.

     
  • dannyo
    Posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:36am

    hogwash!!! anyone who thinks a campaign against bullying is going to decrease bullying is delusional..kids have been bullying kids and democrat politicians have been bullying repubs and women for the past hundred years, and they have no intention to stop…HOGWASH!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • HKS
    Posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:31am

    Great gesture but, this is what parents are suppose to do.

    Report Post » HKS  
    • Master.Debater
      Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:14am

      Yes, providing counseling in the schools and classroom curriculum about bullying is pointless. It’s all about parenting. If you don’t teach your kids to stand up to bullies, they will likely either be bullied or follow bullies.

      Report Post » Master.Debater  
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