The Peaceman Foundation® is a private foundation that I established to battle hatred and violence – especially against those who are perceived as outsiders – and to treat those suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (P.T.S.D.), a serious condition caused by a reaction to hatred or violence.
My family and I have suffered greatly from the biggest Hate Crime in history — Adolph Hitler’s murder of 6 million Jews. During the Holocaust, at the age of 17, my father Siggi B. Wilzig was transported to Auschwitz, the worst of all the Nazi extermination camps. He survived the war, but altogether 59 of my relatives were murdered by the Nazis. Having seen his mother sent straight to the gas chambers and having watched his father beaten to death during forced slave labor, my own father suffered headaches, flashbacks, anxiety attacks, and nightmares for the rest of his life — all classic symptoms of P.T.S.D. Therefore, it has been ingrained in me since childhood to prevent hatred and violence towards anyone, and to help those who are victims of hatred and violence. One particular area of interest is in helping LGBT youth who have been affected by bullying and violence, to prevent suicides and other long-lasting negative effects, such as P.T.S.D.
Therefore, I am donating all of my recording artist royalties from my album sales to The Peaceman Foundation, which will distribute the funds to charitable organizations that battle hatred and violence against those perceived as outsiders and to those that treat P.T.S.D. I want to help save countless lives by preventing hatred and violence from happening in the first place and by keeping victims of hatred and violence from committing suicide.
Charities The Peaceman® Foundation and Sir Ivan® have supported are:
- ACE New York
- The Active Network
- American Diabetes Association
- Amcha
- The Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR)
- American National Red Cross
- Anti-Defamation League
- Avon Walk for Breast Cancer
- Best Buddies International
- The Blue Card Fund
- Born This Way Foundation
- Broadway Sings for Pride
- Bullyproof Initiative
- Campus Pride
- Ellen P. Hermanson Foundation
- Elton John AIDS Foundation
- Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation
- Gay, Lesbian & Straight Educational Network (GLSEN)
- Gayface
- GMAD
- The Groovy Project
- The Heart Fund
- The It Gets Better Project
- K9s For Warriors
- LA 4 Animals Foundation
- The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
- The Little Lighthouse Foundation
- Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth (LIGALY)
- Love Is Louder
- Make-A-Wish Foundation
- Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)
- The Max Cure Foundation
- Museum of Jewish Heritage
- National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
- The Opportunity Network
- Outmusic
- Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center
- Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
- Phoenix House
- PTSD United
- Rock Against Trafficking
- Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation
- Southampton Hospital
- Stomp Out Bullying
- Team Justice
- The Trevor Project
- Wounded Warrior Project
Bullying – Why Should You Care?
Bullying is not just “kids being kids.” It is extremely serious and dangerous, and leads to thousands of deaths every year among young people. It also leads to problems with emotional and physical health and damages our educational system.
That’s why Sir Ivan created the song “Kiss All The Bullies Goodbye” – to raise awareness of the problem and to help fight bullying.
If you’re reading this, chances are you or someone you know may have been affected by bullying at some point. Read on for ways to help make a difference at your school and in your community.
Statistics on Bullying
Impact on Suicide:
- Bullying is a universal problem that can often be linked to youth suicide.
- Tragically, there are more than 440,000 teens who talk about or attempt suicide in the U.S. every year.
- LGBT teenagers are 4-5 times more likely to attempt suicide than their straight peers.
- Impact on Education:
- Every month, 282,000 students are attacked in school.
- 160,000 U.S. students stay home from school every day due to bullying.
- One out of every ten students who drop out of school does so because of bullying.
What Is Sir Ivan Doing to Help?
Sir Ivan is a strong believer that bullying must be stopped and that we must celebrate differences rather than punish them.
Sir Ivan has been a strong opponent of bullying for years, and through his philanthropic Peaceman Foundation, has been making major donations to anti-bullying organizations such as The Trevor Project, the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) youth.
Sir Ivan has donated $100,000 to 10 non-profit organizations with strong anti-bullying programs. He is also giving away the net proceeds from the song “Kiss All the Bullies Goodbye” to these organizations.
Anti-Bullying Initiatives and Organizations
There are several excellent organizations and initiatives that provide resources and support for students, parents, and teachers. A list of many of these is below, with contact information:
The leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ young people, aged 13-24.
The Trevor Lifeline: 1-866-488-7386
Its mission is to communicate to LGBT youth that it gets better, and to create and inspire changes needed to make it better for them.
GLSEN is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. GLSEN works to ensure that LGBT students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment.
Led by Lady Gaga and her mother, the Born This Way Foundation fosters a more accepting society, where differences are embraced and individuality is celebrated. It is dedicated to creating a safe community that helps connect young people with the skills and opportunities they need to build a kinder, braver world.
Pacer provides innovative resources for students, parents, educators, and others, and recognizes bullying as a serious community issue that impacts education, physical and emotional health, and the safety and well-being of students.
PFLAG is the nation’s largest organization uniting people who are LGBT with parents, families, friends, and allies. PFLAG envisions a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed, inclusive of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
Love is Louder is a project of The Jed Foundation that supports teenagers and college students who feel mistreated, hopeless, or alone. Communities across the country use Love is Louder programs, events, and clubs to strengthen emotional health by building resilience, fostering connectedness, promoting acceptance, discouraging harmful behaviors such as bullying, and equipping advocates to support their peers. As part of his work to prevent bullying, Sir Ivan’s donation will support Love is Louder clubs and events across the country that work to make campuses more inclusive and support students who are struggling emotionally, both those who feel mistreated and those who engage in bullying behaviors.
Campus Pride represents the only national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization for student leaders and campus groups working to create a safer college environment for LGBT students. The organization is a volunteer-driven network “for” and “by” student leaders. The primary objective of Campus Pride is to develop necessary resources, programs, and services to support LGBT and ally students on college campuses across the United States.
STOMP Out Bullying™ is the leading national bullying and cyberbullying prevention organization for kids and teens in the U.S. STOMP Out Bullying™ is recognized as the most influential anti-bullying organization in America and beyond.
ADL’s A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE® Institute is a leader in developing anti-bullying and anti-cyberbullying training, curriculum, and resources for youth, educators, youth providers, and adult family members.
ADL’s A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE Institute provides the tools and resources to assist people in taking action to prevent and respond to bullying and cyberbullying.
How Can You Help?
There are many ways you can help stop bullying.
When you see it happening, raise it to teachers, parents, or community leaders to help stop it. Provide emotional support to those who are bullied.
Also, you can support anti-bullying programs by donating your time or money to these initiatives or organizations in your community.
Or, you can support these initiatives by buying a download of the song “Kiss All the Bullies Goodbye,” because Sir Ivan is donating 100% of the net proceeds from the song (and the remixes) to very important anti-bullying programs. Click here to download on iTunes.
Here is a list of anti-bullying initiatives and organizations you can support by purchasing the song:
Anti-Bullying Initiatives or Organizations
- The Trevor Project
- The It Gets Better Project
- Gay, Lesbian & Straight Educational Network (GLSEN)
- Born This Way Foundation
- Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center
- Campus Pride
- Stomp Out Bullying
- Anti-Defamation League
- Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG)
- Love is Louder
“Kiss All the Bullies Goodbye” by Sir Ivan features Taylor Dayne and was produced by Paul Oakenfeld. The remixes were made by Tracy Young, Wayne G, Tony Moran, Ralphi Rosario, Sin Morera and Tony Shimkin, Ali Dee, Ford, Aitor Wilzig, and Bobby Puma.
Additional anti-bullying resources:
- Cyberbullying Facts, Statistics and Prevention
- Parent Alert: Possible Signs Your Child Is Being Bullied
- Preventing Cyberbullying at Home: A Guide for Parents
- What to do if Your Child is the Bully
- How to Prevent Bullying in the Classroom
- How to Battle Bullying in the Workplace
- 10 Ways for Adults to Heal From Childhood Bullying
As the son of a Holocaust survivor, I’ve always been an activist for people who have been persecuted. I was brought up with a heightened awareness of the harm that being perceived as different can cause. Through my music and influence, I want to demonstrate the importance of acceptance and understanding.
LGBTQ people often lack a support system and are more likely to be fired or bullied, experience difficulties, and have a much higher suicide rate. I, for one, will not stand for it, and I hope people will unite with me against this injustice. Certain LGBTQ organizations provide critical support services to the transgender community to help prevent suicide, and I’m determined to help them in doing this.
When the president of my own record label, Peaceman Music, Laura Ford (formerly Lawrence Ford), informed me that 41 percent of all transgender people attempt suicide, I decided they needed my help the most.
Some additional statistics on LGBTQ issues:
- LGBTQ kids are more than four times more likely to consider suicide than the general population
- Violence against LGBTQ people is at a historic high
- 41% of transgender people have attempted suicide (compared with 1.6% in the general population)
- 40% of homeless kids identify as LGBTQ. 20% of transgender people say they’ve been homeless. More than half reported being assaulted by residents and staff at homeless shelters.
- LGBTQ people can legally be fired just for being LGBTQ in 28-30 states. 20% of LGBTQ people have reported discrimination at work. 25% of transgender people reported losing a job because of their gender, and 90% have experienced discrimination at work.
LGBTQ Organizations
There are several organizations and initiatives that provide resources and support for LGBTQ people and LGBTQ issues, many of which have received support from my philanthropic organization, The Peaceman Foundation. Here is a partial list of resources for any LGBTQ people who might be looking for help:
The National Center for Transgender Equality is the nation’s leading social justice advocacy organization, winning life-saving change for transgender people. NCTE was founded by transgender activists who recognized the urgent need for policy change and set out to provide a powerful transgender advocacy presence in Washington, D.C.
The leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ young people, aged 13-24. The Trevor Lifeline: 1-866-488-7386
The leading national organization to facilitate understanding in schools between straight and LGBTQ students. They work on the local, state, and national levels to ensure that LGBTQ students are respected and valued, and to make schools a safer place through educator resources, advocacy on policies and laws, and student education.
GLAAD works with print, broadcast, and online news sources to bring people powerful stories from the LGBTQ community that build support for equality. GLAAD also works closely with transgender people and transgender advocacy groups to raise awareness about transgender issues. GLAAD provides free media training to empower transgender people to share their stories.
TSER is a youth-led organization dedicated to transforming the educational environment for trans and gender-nonconforming students through advocacy and empowerment.
The Trans Youth Equality Foundation provides education, advocacy, and support for transgender children, youth, and their families. Their mission is to share information about the unique needs of this community, partnering with families, educators, and service providers to help foster a healthy, caring, and safe environment for all transgender children.
TYFA empowers children and families by partnering with educators, service providers, and communities to develop supportive environments in which gender may be expressed and respected. L TYFA’s vision is to create a society free of suicide and violence in which ALL children are respected and celebrated.
Its mission is to communicate to LGBT youth that it gets better and to create and inspire changes needed to make it better for them.
GLSEN is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. GLSEN works to ensure that LGBT students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment.
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- Gender Spectrum www.genderspectrum.org
Gender Spectrum provides consultation, training, and events designed to help families, educators, professionals, and organizations understand and address the concepts of gender identity and expression, enabling clients to gain a deeper understanding of gender all along the spectrum. Gender Spectrum provides an overview of how society currently defines gender and how these restrictive definitions can be detrimental to those who do not fit neatly into these categories. They then help individuals identify and remove obstacles so everyone can be their authentic selves.
HMI believes all young people, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to achieve their full potential for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth aged 13-24 and their families. Through a comprehensive package of direct services and referrals, HMI seeks to foster healthy youth development. HMI uses its expertise to create innovative programs that other organizations may use as models.
KISS ALL THE BULLIES GOODBYE
The music video for Sir Ivan’s anti-bullying song “Kiss All The Bullies Goodbye” shows the story of several LGBTQ teens being bullied. Sir Ivan is donating the net proceeds from video views, song streams, and downloads of this song to several important anti-bullying organizations, including The Trevor Project, GLAAD, ADL, and the It Gets Better Project.
Kiss All The Bullies Goodbye feat. Taylor Dayne (Paul Oakenfold Original Mix)