Over 200 NJ school students pledge to rise up with Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime and his owner visit Egg Harbor Township in New Jersey, encouraging over 200 students to rise up against bullies!
"This was the first school we've visited since November of 2020. And I can already tell this experience will remain one of my favorites in 2021."
That is a message from Joe Fiduccia, owner of the world's only Hasbro-approved replica of Optimus Prime from Transformers: Age Of Extinction. An ordinary dad who continues to use his replica of Optimus as a symbol of hope and encouragement for children around the globe. Creating what he calls an 'elite force against bullies'.
Fiduccia drives Optimus Prime to schools around the country, encouraging children to rise up with Team Prime against bullies. A lifetime victim of bullying himself, his presentation has helped students understand that they are not alone in how they feel. And with the help of Optimus has positively motivated thousands of school students from Pennsylvania to Texas.
Their first trip in 2021 brought him back to his childhood home state of New Jersey. Optimus and Fiduccia traveled to Egg Harbor Township to visit the students at Atlantic Christian School. The visit was fully sponsored by a local dentist who agreed to cover the expenses and help support his community. Allowing the school to bring Optimus into town at zero cost to them.
"I think it's an amazing thing you're doing," says Atlantic Smiles, LLC owner Marc Pukenas. "I am proud to be part of it."
With the help of the Egg Harbor Police and the Scullvile Volunteer Fire Department, Fiduccia coordinated a lights and sirens entrance for the students who were waiting outside the school. He then spent about 45 minutes speaking with them, sharing his story about bullying while offering them some insights about how to deal with bullies.
“If you’re being bullied, I want you to know something that took me a long time to realize. More often than not, it has nothing to do with you, or anything you have said or done. When bullies target you for a random reason, it's usually because of something that’s going on in their own life that they are trying to forget or deflect,” Fiduccia said during his presentation.
"Don't ever be afraid to stand up for yourself. But just as Optimus would do, it's up to you to also walk a higher path and show others through action how bullies will not impact your life or your dreams."
When the presentation was complete, students were invited up one class at a time for individual photos alongside Optimus, before receiving anti-bully pledge cards from Team Prime.
"I want these kids to understand that they are not alone. I know all-to-well the negative effects bullies can have of good people. I've seen it, and I've dealt with it all my life. Even to this day. But when they see us roll up in Optimus...when they hear what I have to say...they actually feel empowered. And I know at least some of them walk away viewing life a bit differently because of our visit."
While this is only the first of several planned visits across the country in 2021, Fiduccia believes his trip to Egg Harbor Township will become one of the most memorable experiences for him and for the students who were in attendance.
"This was an incredible day for me personally," he says. "It was great to get back out again after a very long and trying winter. We're finally out there doing what we love to do - inspiring a new generation of heroes to believe in themselves, and their abilities."
Before leaving Egg Harbor Township, Fiduccia made one more brief stop at the main sponsor - Atlantic Smiles, LLC - to offer his personal gratitude while giving employees and their families a VIP close-up experience with Optimus.
"I could not have done this without the sponsorship and collaboration from everyone involved. The community rallied today, and it was an honor to be part of it."
If you would like to sponsor a bully awareness school visit in your neighborhood, you can read more about this very unique program from here. You can also send us a message to request more information.
