Social Impact Heroes: Why & How Ross Ellis of STOMP Out Bullying Is Helping To Change Our World
Resilience is Key: Building an organization or leading a movement is a journey filled with challenges. Understanding the importance of resilience and perseverance can help navigate difficult times.
As part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Ross Ellis.
Ross Ellis is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of STOMP Out Bullying. She is nationally recognized as an expert for her work in bullying and cyberbullying prevention, violence against children, online safety, as well as being an expert in parenting. Ross has over 20 years of experience in the non-profit and corporate sector, and has been a child advocate for more than two decades. She educates on reducing and preventing bullying, cyberbullying, and other digital abuse, educating against homophobia, racism and hatred, and deterring violence in schools, online and in communities across the country. Additionally she educates parents about the safety of their children. In 2005, Ross founded STOMP Out Bullying, the leading national bullying and cyberbullying prevention nonprofit for kids and teens in the U.S. STOMP Out Bullying has since become the most influential anti-bullying organization in the country.
Under Ms. Ellis’ leadership, STOMP Out Bullying has helped over 5 million youths in resolving bullying situations.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
Certainly, I’ve always been on the side of the underdog. When I see or hear about children being harmed, I feel a strong urge to help them. That likely comes from seeing my grandmother being the ultimate advocate and fundraiser. That led me to become a volunteer wish granter for kids in the pediatric Hematology/Oncology division at Mount Sinai and growing into a volunteer wish granter for the Starlight Children’s Foundation of NY where I was one of their major wish granters. Dealing with sick children was bad enough, but seeing how many kids were neglected and abandoned lit a fire under me to start Love Our Children USA, a child abuse prevention organization.
Learning as much as I could, and taking psychology and parenting courses I became a parenting expert. That was in 1999. Sadly, no one cared about abused kids and it became difficult to run the organization with little funding, but I kept up the fight to help the children. In 2003 we were getting many calls about bullying, Cyberbullying didn’t have a name then but I was up for the challenge. I learned from experts, spoke to professionals, and took psychology and technology courses. Within 2 days of posting relative content on Love Our Children USA, the site crashed. And in 2005 STOMP Out Bullying was born. With all of the world’s ills our mission has grown and we are now the leading anti-bullying and anti-cyberbullying organization in the country and beyond for kids 11 -24. Expanding on those societal ills our mission grew to educating against homophobia, LGBTQ+ discrimination, racism and hatred, and deterring violence in schools, online and in communities across the country. STOMP Out Bullying promotes civility, diversity, inclusion, equity and equality. It teaches effective solutions on how to respond to all forms of bullying, as well as educating kids and teens in school and online. It provides help for those in need and at risk of suicide, and raises awareness through peer mentoring programs in schools, public service announcements by noted celebrities, and social media campaigns. Today, STOMP Out Bullying® is recognized as the most influential anti-bullying and cyberbullying organization in America and beyond.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
One of the most captivating moments in my journey with STOMP Out Bullying was our involvement with the Vol Shop at the University of Tennessee.
A T-shirt designed by a bullied Florida fourth grader has helped raise nearly $1 million. Back in September, 2019 the University of Tennessee got wind that a fourth grader, from Altamonte Springs, had broken down in tears after classmates made fun of the homemade UT T-shirt that he wore to represent the Tennessee Volunteers football team for college colors week. The school ended up sending his hand-drawn design to the Vol Shop who ended up making it into an actual shirt and sold it through its Vol Shop website. More than 112,000 T-shirts were sold in three months, raising more than $952,000 for STOMP Out Bullying. And the university offered the student a full scholarship. They said it was overwhelming and far exceeded expectations. Each shirt was sold for $14.99, with $8.45 per shirt donated towards STOMP Out Bullying. The demand for it was so high that at one point the VolShop website crashed. We were so close to the $1M dollar mark, I called our friends at the New York Jets to see if they would round out the donation to $1M. And they did! Between now former Jets player Jonotthan Harrison who was nominated for the Water Payton Man of the Year award receiving $40,000 and donating it to us and the New York Jets donating the remaining amount to make it a $1M dollar donation.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
During the early days of STOMP Out Bullying, I once accidentally sent an email meant for a close friend to our entire mailing list, including donors and supporters. The email contained a humorous personal anecdote unrelated to the organization’s work. While this may not have been a traditional mistake, it taught me the importance of careful communication and the need to maintain professionalism in all aspects of our work.
Can you describe how you or your organization is making a significant social impact?
STOMP Out Bullying is making a significant social impact through our comprehensive approach to addressing bullying, cyberbullying, and other forms of digital abuse. Having created National Block It Out Day, where over 400,000 youths blocked out negative posts and paid it forward to friends and family, our organization serves as a beacon of hope for students experiencing cyberbullying. With programs that include peer mentoring, public service announcements featuring celebrities, and social media campaigns that raise awareness and empower young people to take a stand against bullying, we are dedicated to fostering a culture of civility, inclusion, and equality in schools and communities across the country.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
One powerful example of the impact of STOMP Out Bullying is the story of a student who, thanks to our organization’s resources and support, found the strength to confront and overcome bullying. This student’s experience is a testament to our commitment to empowering young individuals and providing them with the tools to combat bullying, fostering resilience and self-confidence in the face of adversity.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
Advocate for Legislation Endorsement: Schools can endorse their state’s anti-bullying legislation and create a bully-free atmosphere for all students/.
Promote Inclusive Education: Encourage the promotion of inclusive education in schools, emphasizing kindness, empathy, and diversity as core values.
Engage Upstanders: Encourage students to be active upstanders, standing up against bullying and supporting victims.
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
Leadership, to me, is the ability to inspire positive change through action, dedication, and a commitment to a greater purpose. It involves setting an example, motivating others, and working tirelessly towards a mission. My leadership is evident in my unwavering commitment to protecting children, my tireless efforts to raise awareness about bullying, and my dedication to creating a culture of kindness and inclusion.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
Resilience is Key: Building an organization or leading a movement is a journey filled with challenges. Understanding the importance of resilience and perseverance can help navigate difficult times.
Networking Matters: Building strong connections with like-minded individuals, organizations, and supporters can significantly amplify your impact and resources.
Adapt to Change: The landscape of social issues and advocacy can change rapidly. Being open to adapting your strategies and approaches is crucial for long-term success.
Invest in Education: Continuous learning and staying informed about the latest trends and research in your field can inform better decision-making and program development.
Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledging and celebrating even the smallest successes along the way can boost morale and motivation for both you and your team.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
My inspiring movement would focus on fostering empathy and kindness. It would aim to create a global culture where individuals prioritize understanding, empathy, compassion, and support for one another, regardless of differences. This movement would encourage people to see the value in diversity, promote inclusivity, and actively work to eradicate all forms of discrimination and hatred.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
My favorite life lesson quote might be something along the lines of: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” This quote underscores my commitment to taking action and leading by example to eradicate bullying. It emphasizes that to create positive change, one must embody the values and behaviors they wish to inspire in others.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)
Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama. They are advocates of change and could help inspire new strategies for supporting young people.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Readers can stay updated on my work and the initiatives of STOMP Out Bullying by visiting our website www.stompoutbullying.org and following us on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. We regularly share updates, resources, and inspiring stories related to our mission to end the hate and change the culture.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
