Nearly 150 Youth Take Anti-Bullying Pledge

Nearly 150 kids joined forces with Buzz and Woody from the famed Toy Story movies on Thursday at the Lakewood YMCA to , and make a pledge to be a good friend in 2012.

The students, part of the YMCA’s after-school enrichment program, took this pledge with their favorite Toy Story characters:

“You’ve got a friend in me always. Friends first, friends forever. Friends to infinity and beyond.” 

approached the Greater Long Beach YMCA branches for the “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” anti-bullying and friendship forum, and Kelly Campanella, one of the YMCA directors, said they were thrilled to be involved.

“This is a very important topic,” she said. “We want families, especially children, involved in the YMCA to be aware that bullying is a problem, and that children who are bullied are not alone. We want the children to know that bullying is not cool, and hearing it from their favorite Toy Story characters helps get this very important message across.”

The event, which took place at the Lakewood YMCA, featured essays read from three children who are attending the YMCA’s after-school enrichment program.

The program is completing a week of learning about the value of respect, consideration and kindsness.

Mitchell, 10, one of the children from the Los Altos YMCA, said in his essay that he is making a pledge to be a better friend in 2012.

“I will not participate or allow bullying in 2012,” he said. “I feel bad when someone is lonely and has no friends, so I will make the effort to be their friend and stand up for them in a time of need. Remember, bullying is not cool.”

The children were from one of three of Greater Long Beach YMCA branches: Los Altos; Lakewood and Fairchild.

The students from each of the branches have been sharing stories of being bullied with the emphasis on the fact that “friendship must come first.”

The forum also featured anti-bullying artwork.

The “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” rally is part of a a weekend-long celebration of "Disney On Ice presents Disney Pixar’s Toy Story 3" performing in Long Beach at the Long Beach Convention Center and Arena from January 4-8.

“This show will be a great way to relive the humor, friendship and charm of Toy Story with the entire family,” said Dan Spellens, Director of Theaters & Entertainment for the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center in a press release. “We are pleased, once again, to welcome back Disney On Ice to the Long Beach Arena.”

Tickets are still available for all shows with prices ranging from $16 to $70 each. Tickets can be purchased though all TicketMaster outlets and at the Long Beach Arena Box Office, 3000 E. Ocean Blvd., which is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Tickets can also be purchased before each show. 

Remaining Show Times:

Friday, Jan. 6 – 11 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 7 – Noon, 3:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 8 – Noon, 3:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m.