"Compassionate" 10-year-old baseball player survives life-changing bullying by leaving school district.
Zachery's dad says his 5th Grade son is "compassionate, friendly and sensitive" and "the most resilient kid he's ever met" having survived multiple verbal and physical attacks from bullies at school.
10-year-old Zachery is overall a well-liked boy who loves Pokemon and is most passionate about playing baseball and his favorite team, the New York Yankees. So, when he was suddenly and then relentlessly targeted by bullies starting in the 4th Grade, he was stunned - and very upset. His main bully began by targeting Zachery's appearance, particularly his blonde eyebrows. Zachery doesn't like to talk about it, and he also receives speech therapy two times a week, but still he found the courage to speak up with his dad by his side to a 7 ABC WKBW local news reporter in Buffalo, New York.
We all know that bullying happens where adults are not, and in Zachery's case, he felt strongly that his teachers did not believe him when he reported the bullying. Zachery told the news reporter, “It's super hard because he (the bully), he's literally always trying -- comes over and tried and always beat me up."
Zachery works hard to be his best self! 💕
Zachery's dad says a student bullied his son multiple times, including trying to steal his cell phone, breaking his iPad charger, making a racist remark, and demanding Zachery's lunch ... and then "the final straw came when he got pushed in gym class. My son says he jumped on his back." After the local news story came out, cyber-bullying started; false and cruel comments were posted on the news' Youtube story.
A positive outcome of the news story was an invitation to tour and ultimately attend a private school. Last fall at just 9-years-old, Zachery left behind the school district where he did not feel safe, and which is also facing a lawsuit from the family of a 12-year-old boy who died by suicide last May. The family claims he faced relentless bullying.
His dad credits Zachery's travel baseball team and his passion for practicing the sport for "keeping him going" despite some depression caused by the purposeful cruelty. Zachery continues to show his kindness and compassion to his peers when they need it, like in this picture (below) snapped by a baseball team dad whose son was being consoled by Zachery after struggling in the game.
Watch a YOUTUBE OF ZACHERY'S STORY by our On-Air Teen Ambassador, Brielle Diaz Withers!
Zachery's dad feels now that "the rain is over and the rainbow is coming out." Zachery is talking positively about his new school. It is the perfect time for his 10-year-old to receive inspirational and affirming letters of peer support to help him stay strong and continue to heal from life-changing bullying.
AMBASSADORS, LET'S SHOW ZACHERY JUST HOW MANY FRIENDS HE HAS! JOIN WITH THE BAFP TO STAND UP FOR ZACHERY, AND LET HIM KNOW HE MATTERS!
EVERY LETTER IS A GIFT!
THE MORE SUPPORT, THE GREATER THE IMPACT!
"CHANGE ONE LIFE AND YOU CAN CHANGE THE WORLD. IT'S IN YOUR HANDS!"
DUE DATE FOR ZACHERY'S "FRIEND MAIL" IS MARCH 8TH!
Friend Mail must arrive in our NY office for review by the Due Date to be included in the main surprise delivery!
Mail "PHYSICAL" letters to:
Be A Friend Project
P.O. Box 30
Beacon, NY 12508
Email letters, videos, scans & Google Drive links, send to:
-OR-
