TEEN SEVERELY BEATEN AT DEERFIELD BEACH MIDDLE SCHOOL TO RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM NATIONAL VOICES FOR EQUALITY, EDUCATION AND ENLIGHTENMENT

National Voices for Equality, Education and Enlightenment To Act As Family Spokesperson, Lead Community Fundraisers, and Raise Awareness

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – May 19, 2010 – The mother of the Broward County teenager who was nearly beaten to death at Deerfield Beach Middle School officially thanked supporters from across the nation and announced that the family will be working with the National Voices for Equality, Education, and Enlightenment (NVEEE), a nonprofit organization taking a stand against school bullying and violence. 15-year-old Josie Lou Ratley suffered brain damage and spent more than a month at Broward General Medical Center after the brutal attack on school grounds March 17.

“Josie is recovering, however, it doesn’t remove the heartache we feel while watching her suffer in pain and seeing what has happened to her,” said NVEEE Founder/President Jowharah Sanders. “This situation, Josie’s story, like so many other stories are the reasons why NVEEE was formed. Our mission is to inspire and educate young adults in an effort to encourage them to become productive members of society, and to prevent and respond to victims of bullying, hate crimes and other heinous acts of violence.” Ratley’s mother, Hilda Gotay, read the following statement during the May 19 media conference at Gallery 101 in Fort Lauderdale, Fl:

“I want to thank you for coming out today to hear an update of my daughter’s health status. Josie is recovering, but she has a long road ahead of her. She is re-learning how to read, write and recognize colors, letters, numbers, and shapes all over again. She cannot use the bathroom, take a shower or brush her teeth on her own. Although it is heartbreaking to see what has happened to her, it is comforting to know that so many of you care about her progress and have shown your love and support. Josie has received many letters, cards, gifts, teddy bears, banners, and monetary donations from all over the U.S. Again, I would personally like to thank each of you who have reached out to us during our time of need.”

“Also, I would like to take this time to acknowledge Jowharah Sanders and the National Voices for Equality, Education, and Enlightenment (NVEEE), organization for reaching out to my family and showing their support during this delicate time. As a result of their expressed kindness, our family has requested NVEEE to be our official spokesperson. From this point on NVEEE and our attorneys will be handling our support efforts so that we can focus more on Josie’s recovery. Again thank you to everyone for your continued support. Please do keep Josie and our family in your thoughts and prayers.”

Along with serving as the family spokesperson, NVEEE has launched a community drive to secure donations and funds to assist Ratley in her recovery and rehabilitation. Her family desperately needs basic medical supplies, educational items, and a new home that gives them more space for a child whose primary forms of transportation are now a wheelchair and walker. Anyone who would like to donate items, money, or time can contact NVEEE at 954.561.2626 or via the website www.nveee.org. The following is the current list of drop off locations:

Gallery 101
501 N. Andrews Avenue, Suite 103
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Drop Off times Sun/Monday Closed
Tues-Sat 12-6pm

Fache Arts
750 NE 124 Street, Suite 2
North Miami, FL 33161
Drop off times:
Monday – Closed
Tues-Friday 11-5pm
Sat-Sun by appt only.

The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale
1799 S.E. 17th Street, MAIN BLDG
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Monday-8-10
Saturday 8-5

Palmetto Bay Village Center
NVEEE, c/o Rubinstein and Associates
18001 Old Cutler Road, Suite 600
Miami, FL 33157
305.374.5500
Drop off times M-F 10-5:30

Domnick and Shevin
5100 PGA Blvd Suite 317
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
561-630-5363
Drop off times M-F 10-5:30

“Josie is a talented young artist who no matter the circumstances did not deserve to be bullied or victimized,” said Sanders. As this story began to unfold, NVEEE made a choice to act, to reach out and be of service to this family. We now ask our fellow citizens to take a stand against the bullying and bystanderism.” In the attack against Ratley, investigators have charged 15-year-old Wayne Treacy with first-degree attempted murder, while 13-year-old Kayla Manson has been charged as an accomplice. “The American Justice Department reports that 282,000 students are physically attacked in secondary schools each month, meaning a child is bullied every seven minutes,” said Sanders. “What’s more even more disturbing is the report shows that 85% of the time there is no intervention by either an adult or a peer. We can no longer blame it on the bystander effect. It is time to take responsibility for our actions.”

About NVEEE

Founded in October of 2009, NVEEE was conceived as a response to the increasing levels of bullying, violence, and suicide among middle and high school students. We are composed of a team of individuals dedicated to restoring order within the community, and bringing awareness to hate crimes and heinous acts being committed by and against school-aged children on a daily basis. We aim to alleviate bullying and victimization, whether it is by peer-on-peer ignorance, bystanderism, or institutional intolerance.

CBS4 – June 7, 2010
New Video Shows Josie Ratley At Home
http://tiny.cc/i6pl7

MSNBC – May 23, 2010
Josie Ratley Slowly Recovering
http://bit.ly/dpli66

CBS4 – May 22, 2010
Fundraiser For Beaten Teen Held Saturday
http://bit.ly/d7o9zs

Examiner.com – May 20, 2010
Josie Ratley: Teen nearly beaten to death is beating the odds
http://bit.ly/axctGw

PRLog Press Release – May 19, 2010
Teenager Nearly Beaten To Death At School To Get Help From Nonviolence Organization
http://bit.ly/dpeIkf

AP – New Times – May 19, 2010
Fla. teen beating victim getting ready to go home
http://bit.ly/9LcHsJ