Press Release -- For Immediate Release
July 25, 2011 – The Marcus L. Ruscitto Charitable Foundation, in partnership with The Pittsburgh Foundation, announced today that the foundation will provide $50,000 in program funding to support a regional initiative to address the growing challenge of bullying and cyberbullying. The Ruscitto Foundation was established in 2006 as a legacy to Marc Ruscitto, the founder and CEO of Stargate Industries, a regional Internet company. Marc was an energetic young entrepreneur and visionary who generously supported a variety of community and charitable endeavors. The foundation has continued Marc’s work through a range of grants but recently decided to make a significant commitment to tackle this critical issue.
Bullying is a growing problem in our community in large part because of student’s access to new media like smartphones, YouTube and Facebook. According to the National Crime Prevention Council, 43% of teens have been the victims of cyberbullying in the last year. "Marc was always quick to defend kids who were being bullied in school,” says Carol Ruscitto, Marcus’s mother and the leader of the Foundation’s program committee. “With the onset of cyberbullying, the problem is much more complicated now and it will take unique new programs to address. This is exactly the kind of program that Marc would have immersed himself into solving".
The program was launched at the Sixth Annual Marcus L. Ruscitto Charitable Foundation Golf Invitational. Dr. Adolf Brown, a renowned motivational speaker and expert in the field, spoke at the event. A regional kickoff event, expected to attract 300-400 school counselors and administrators, is scheduled for early November.
In addition to the Ruscitto Family’s private foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Ruscitto also hold a fund at The Pittsburgh Foundation which they plan to use for distributing grants to support the anti-bullying initiative.
"Bullying among children and adolescents has become almost epidemic and has been receiving increased attention over the past several years. It is an issue that everyone has seen, felt, or been directly affected by. School counselors are front line educators who address the prevalence of bullying in the schools. The Ruscitto Foundation is to be commended for its focus on this critical issue and for providing professional development that addresses strategies and resources for reducing incidences of bullying and for helping those who have been victimized by bullies. Recent budget cuts in education have reduced both professional development opportunities and resources. Programs such as this are to be commended. In a much needed time, this initiative will impact the youth of tomorrow with tools and resources for educators to stop bullying." - Michelle Brand, President (2011-2012), Pennsylvania School Counselors Association (PSCA)
"The practice of bullying, particularly cyberbullying, has become a significant issue across our nation and has potentially devastating consequences for our children and their families. The Pittsburgh Foundation is pleased and excited to partner with the Ruscitto Family on such a critically important initiative." - Kevin Jenkins, Senior Program Officer and Director of Community Initiatives for The Pittsburgh Foundation
For more information or to contribute to the work of the foundation, please visit the foundation’s web site at marcusruscittofoundation.org.
About The Marcus L. Ruscitto Charitable Foundation
The Marcus L. Ruscitto Charitable Foundation was established as a legacy to an energetic young leader and visionary who devoted his time to helping people grow and pursue their dreams. The friends and family of Marcus are proud to continue with his work – inspiring others to live life with passion and purpose. The Foundation invests in a broad range of educational, charitable and research endeavors that reflect Marc’s own wide ranging interests. From scholarship assistance for promising young people and support services for aspiring entrepreneurs, to investments in some of Marc’s favorite charities and community programs, the Foundation will nurture innovation, leadership and compassion and will do so with all the dynamics and energy for which Marcus was so well known.
About The Pittsburgh Foundation
Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and is the 15th largest of more than 700 community foundations across the United States. As a community foundation, our resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and a deep commitment to the Pittsburgh community.
The Foundation currently has more than 1,300 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations, assets of nearly $600 million (at December 31, 2009). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of community life within Pittsburgh and beyond. The Foundation has strengthened its focus on community and the positive impact it strives to achieve through its grantmaking, the engagement of its donors in critical regional issues and its activities around convening and leadership, in collaboration with funding and civic partners.
Contact:
Carol A. Ruscitto
Marcus L. Ruscitto Charitable Foundation
(724) 929-2125
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