Bully's mean-spirited note spurs movement to empower young girls
An anonymous viewer mailed Nebraska reporter Michelle Bandur a handwritten card with a $1 bill enclosed.
The note said: "Michelle- Please accept this gift and use it wisely. 50 cents for those bags under your eyes and 50 cents for your big, fat nose. You need the help! A Viewer."
Bandur shared the spiteful card with her Facebook and Instagram followers. She told them she was proud of her nose because when she looked in the mirror she saw her Polish roots and parents' image. Bandur also asked them what she should she do with the dollar.
Bandur heard from people who struggled with their appearances and they shared stories of being bullied.
Some told her to play the lottery, rip it up or buy an ice cream cone. At the urging of some other viewers to donate it, Bandur found an Omaha organization whose message flies in the face of the bully's intent to hurt her.
Bandur also heard from people who also are proud of their bodies.
Bandur gave the dollar to FITGIRL Inc. On its website, it says, "Our mission is to empower young girls as they develop and mature by demonstrating positive lifestyle choices; physical, mental, relational and nutritional. Our programs are designed to develop their abilities, equip them with life skills and help them gain confidence."
Founder Cheri Dickmeyer said as a single mother she wanted to help her teen daughters navigate the onslaught of bullying with motivational messages and physical fitness.
"I started to watch them struggling with friendships and bullying. And young girls start pulling out of all physical activity and sports by age ten," Dickmeyer said.
Bandur met with Dickmeyer and about a dozen FITGIRLS to donate the dollar and let them read the note.
"That's rude and mean. It's not really nice at all. Why would anybody send that?" Wren Larson, 12, said.
"It's horrible. Why would anybody write that," Sidney Lohr, 15, said.
Unfortunately the words the anonymous viewer are nothing new to the girls. They have heard and read hateful messages, mostly on social media.
"It really hurts my feelings because you can't really say anything back because you don't want to be mean to those people," Claire Thornburg, 11, said.
"They want to make you feel bad. Don't let it," Gabrielle Nordaker, 15, said.
Besides being bullied, the girls have something else in common, FITGIRL.
I have anxiety and last year my mom told me I was going to a camp and I wasn't excited to go and then I made a lot of friends and had new experiences," Megan Harden said, "and this year I told my mom I wanted to go back."
"It's girls that are all different and unique. It was definitely a new experience. It was a good one," Garbrielle said.
"It helped a lot with our self esteem for me at least," Sierra Jesus, 14, said. "A year ago, I probably would be shaking and probably crying by now. FITGIRL helped me improve how I feel about myself."
Cheri holds a FITGIRL camp every summer to teach the girls life skills of empowerment. She gives away scholarships to girls who may not have the means to afford such a camp.
Bandur and Dickmeyer started a campaign called Bucks4Bandur to send more girls to camp.
The bully's one dollar has now turned into more than $1,000. If you want to donate to FITGIRL Inc in support of the Bucks4Bandur campaign,