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March 1, 2011

Huddle Up Marches On

ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF

TORONTO – The Toronto Argonauts Football Club’s 10th anniversary celebrations of its impactful and award-winning Huddle Up Bullying Prevention Program continue as the March school visits have been confirmed.  Presented by Tim Hortons, Huddle Up is a multi-component program that involves active student engagement and powerful testimonials by an Argos player and staff at a school-wide assembly.  For 2011, Argos players including Matt Black, Tristan Black, Cory Boyd, Jeremaine Copeland, Joe Eppele, Ricky Foley and Jordan Younger will participate in the Huddle Up program.

The Huddle Up Bullying Prevention Program uses the personal stories of Toronto Argonauts football players to encourage friendship and inclusion, and reduce or eradicate bullying.  Annually, the Huddle Up program reaches close to 30,000 students, and 700 of their parents with an impactful message that was developed in conjunction with the Canadian Safe School Network.  Over the last decade, Huddle Up has reached over 250,000 students across the G.T.A. ranging in age from 8-18. In 2009, the Huddle Up program became recognized on the Ministry of Education’s Registry of Bullying Prevention Programs.  The Argonauts are the only Canadian sports team to have a program registered.

In 2010, the Argonauts added a cyber-bullying component to discussions to address one of the top issues as identified by school administrators.  Positive use of social networks is now encouraged through the growing community of students on facebook.com/ArgosFootball. In 2008, the Argos also added a female-only session with an Argos cheerleader.  The female assemblies now reach 20 schools annually.

For a complete list of  Huddle Up Bullying Prevention Program school visits, please click here.