Editor's note: The original version of this story contained an incorrect phone number. That error has been corrected below.
MONROE - The Ellefsons and the Pierces share a piece of their history. The two couples can understand each other when most others couldn't - and they don't want anyone else to join in their understanding.
They both lost a son to suicide.
In their ongoing effort to make sure no one else has to experience what they did, Kurt and Teri Ellefson, Monroe, and John and Kathy Pierce, Juda, are funding a presentation on cyberbullying with money they raised through their respective foundations: Jacob's SWAG Foundation, named for the Ellefsons' son, and Tyler's TEAM Foundation, named for the Pierces' son.
"If we can prevent one person from going through this ..." Kathy started.
"... it's a win for us," John finished.
Dr. Justin Patchin of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire will give the presentation for area students on Monday, March 17 and Tuesday, March 18 and for parents and other community members at 6:30 p.m. March 17 at the Monroe High School Performing Arts Center.
The evening presentation is geared toward adults and is free to attend, but requires registration due to limited seating. The Ellefsons and Pierces are hoping to fill all 700 seats.
"We have to educate the adults, too, because, I mean, if the adults don't know how to handle it, how are the kids going to know how to handle it?" Kathy said.
The speaker was chosen by Director of Pupil Services Joe Monroe of the Monroe school district and approved by the Monroe school board. Both the Ellefsons and the Pierces said they trust Monroe's judgment, as he "has his pulse on the students' needs."
"If that's who he feels that's going to help the kids, that's who we're going to support," Kurt said, emphasizing his appreciation for the support Jacob's SWAG has received from Monroe, superintendent Cory Hirsbrunner, and the Monroe school board. The Monroe Noon Optimists also donated money toward the presentation.
Cyberbullying is nationwide problem, and Monroe is no different. According to Teri, it's the number one problem in the Monroe school district.
"There's a lot of cyberbullying stuff that leads into suicide," John said. "That's one little part. If we can eliminate the cyberbullying, we can hopefully eliminate that part of suicide or tone it down. And next year it'll be a different avenue we tackle."
One of their main goals is to let kids know there's no shame in asking for help.
"It's okay to talk about it," Teri said. "If you're feeling different ... you're not really different. It's happening to a lot of kids, but it's okay to talk about it."
Middle and high school students and teachers from Monroe, Juda, Argyle, Black Hawk and Brodhead will attend the presentation during school hours, totaling 2,500 potential attendees. John said they hope to expand the reach of next year's event, including school districts like New Glarus.
"Just because you go to a Juda or an Argyle, a small school of limited resources, that doesn't mean that your needs are any less than the kids in Monroe that maybe have a few more financial resources available to them," Kurt said. "The small schools can't do the things that some of the big schools can."
He and Teri noted that the Black Hawk community has been like family to them since their son's death in 2012, which is partially why they wanted to include Black Hawk. Kurt has taught there since 1991.
"They have been so kind to our family through all of this," Kurt said. "And I will do anything I can to help any child from Black Hawk, or other districts as well, at any time."
Another reason the Ellefsons and Pierces fund suicide awareness events is to help ease the stigma for families affected by suicide. Kathy suspects people look at them differently or turn away because they don't know how to express themselves.
"We just want to bring area families together just to kind of remember together, because unfortunately, suicide doesn't affect just individuals," Teri said. "It affects families, which affects communities, which affects everything."
Registration for the evening presentation can be done online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/CyberbullyingPrevention or by calling Sherry Boeke at 608-328-7184.
A 5K run/walk will be held on April 26 at SLICE Ice Arena in Monroe to raise money for future suicide awareness and prevention events through Jacob's SWAG and Tyler's TEAM.
Jacob's SWAG became an official nonprofit in 2013. Tyler's TEAM Foundation is awaiting its nonprofit status, which was applied for in January.
MONROE - The Ellefsons and the Pierces share a piece of their history. The two couples can understand each other when most others couldn't - and they don't want anyone else to join in their understanding.
They both lost a son to suicide.
In their ongoing effort to make sure no one else has to experience what they did, Kurt and Teri Ellefson, Monroe, and John and Kathy Pierce, Juda, are funding a presentation on cyberbullying with money they raised through their respective foundations: Jacob's SWAG Foundation, named for the Ellefsons' son, and Tyler's TEAM Foundation, named for the Pierces' son.
"If we can prevent one person from going through this ..." Kathy started.
"... it's a win for us," John finished.
Dr. Justin Patchin of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire will give the presentation for area students on Monday, March 17 and Tuesday, March 18 and for parents and other community members at 6:30 p.m. March 17 at the Monroe High School Performing Arts Center.
The evening presentation is geared toward adults and is free to attend, but requires registration due to limited seating. The Ellefsons and Pierces are hoping to fill all 700 seats.
"We have to educate the adults, too, because, I mean, if the adults don't know how to handle it, how are the kids going to know how to handle it?" Kathy said.
The speaker was chosen by Director of Pupil Services Joe Monroe of the Monroe school district and approved by the Monroe school board. Both the Ellefsons and the Pierces said they trust Monroe's judgment, as he "has his pulse on the students' needs."
"If that's who he feels that's going to help the kids, that's who we're going to support," Kurt said, emphasizing his appreciation for the support Jacob's SWAG has received from Monroe, superintendent Cory Hirsbrunner, and the Monroe school board. The Monroe Noon Optimists also donated money toward the presentation.
Cyberbullying is nationwide problem, and Monroe is no different. According to Teri, it's the number one problem in the Monroe school district.
"There's a lot of cyberbullying stuff that leads into suicide," John said. "That's one little part. If we can eliminate the cyberbullying, we can hopefully eliminate that part of suicide or tone it down. And next year it'll be a different avenue we tackle."
One of their main goals is to let kids know there's no shame in asking for help.
"It's okay to talk about it," Teri said. "If you're feeling different ... you're not really different. It's happening to a lot of kids, but it's okay to talk about it."
Middle and high school students and teachers from Monroe, Juda, Argyle, Black Hawk and Brodhead will attend the presentation during school hours, totaling 2,500 potential attendees. John said they hope to expand the reach of next year's event, including school districts like New Glarus.
"Just because you go to a Juda or an Argyle, a small school of limited resources, that doesn't mean that your needs are any less than the kids in Monroe that maybe have a few more financial resources available to them," Kurt said. "The small schools can't do the things that some of the big schools can."
He and Teri noted that the Black Hawk community has been like family to them since their son's death in 2012, which is partially why they wanted to include Black Hawk. Kurt has taught there since 1991.
"They have been so kind to our family through all of this," Kurt said. "And I will do anything I can to help any child from Black Hawk, or other districts as well, at any time."
Another reason the Ellefsons and Pierces fund suicide awareness events is to help ease the stigma for families affected by suicide. Kathy suspects people look at them differently or turn away because they don't know how to express themselves.
"We just want to bring area families together just to kind of remember together, because unfortunately, suicide doesn't affect just individuals," Teri said. "It affects families, which affects communities, which affects everything."
Registration for the evening presentation can be done online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/CyberbullyingPrevention or by calling Sherry Boeke at 608-328-7184.
A 5K run/walk will be held on April 26 at SLICE Ice Arena in Monroe to raise money for future suicide awareness and prevention events through Jacob's SWAG and Tyler's TEAM.
Jacob's SWAG became an official nonprofit in 2013. Tyler's TEAM Foundation is awaiting its nonprofit status, which was applied for in January.