FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS:
•Tom Murphy, Director/Founder, Sweethearts & Heroes: 802-309-9539
tom@sweetheartsandheroes.com
•Leon Thompson, Media Relations/Communication Specialist, Sweethearts & Heroes: 802-309-3198, wunwish@yahoo.com
•Travis Heiser, Gloversville Middle School Assistant Principal: 518-775-5720
travis.heiser@gesdk12.org
Sweethearts & Heroes brings more HOPE to Gloversville, NY: 3/4-3/5
GLOVERSVILLE, N.Y. –– An amazing duo of superheroes without capes recently returned to
Gloversville, and this time, they showed middle school students how they can spread HOPE
(Hold On, Possibilities Exist) in their classrooms — and beyond. Tom Murphy and Rick Yarosh, of Sweethearts & Heroes, returned to the Gloversville Enlarged School District on Monday, March 4 and Tuesday, March 5. Sweethearts & Heroes is a student empowerment and empathy activation team that aims to prevent hopelessness, suicide and
bullying with a focus on the basic components of social-emotional learning.
Sweethearts & Heroes offers a profound, engaging signature presentation that calls for HOPE,
Empathy and Action; Circle, which is built on the ancient ritual of communicating in a circle to
build empathy; and BRAVE Buddies, which trains older students in bully drills that they, in turn,
teach to students in lower grades.
The Sweethearts & Heroes team is: Tom Murphy, Director and Founder, of St. Albans, VT; Ret.
U.S. Army Sgt. Rick Yarosh, a HOPE expert, Purple Heart recipient and motivational speaker
from New York who was burned severely while serving in Iraq; and Pat Fish, BRAVE and Circle
Leader. (For more on Circle: ) While in Gloversville on March 4, Murphy and Yarosh presented their signature assembly to middle school students in the morning. For the remainder of the day, Yarosh conducted Q&A sessions with students, while Murphy led Circle activities. Yarosh and Murphy also filled March 5 with Q&A and Circles.
On Jan. 29, Murphy and Yarosh shared a similar day with students at Gloversville High School.
“Through the Sweethearts & Heroes program, we witnessed the transformative power of
kindness, empathy, and courage,” said Travis Heiser, Gloversville Middle School Assistant
Principal. “This initiative has not only fostered a culture of inclusivity and respect but has also
given our scholars the tools to become compassionate leaders who stand up against bullying and adversity. Together, we're creating a brighter, kinder future for all.”
For more than 16 years, Sweethearts & Heroes has presented what Murphy calls “‘the ‘stop, drop and roll’ of bullying” to more than 2.5 million students in school districts from New England to Hawaii and north into Canada. Sweethearts & Heroes also tailor its presentations and
workshops for businesses, non-profits and civic groups. Murphy said, “We go where we’re
needed. That’s what heroes do.” Sweethearts & Heroes has also created The HOPE Classroom, a digital subscription service designed for various grade levels and different school sizes. This value-packed offering can allow Sweethearts & Heroes to be in every school in the U.S. For more information visit: https://thehopeclassroom.com/ ,
Sweethearts & Heroes’ book, 13 Pillows For Affective Teachers, is a novel that covers the
themes of HOPE, Empathy, and Action in the Sweethearts & Heroes curriculum. 13 Pillows is based on real students and teachers that Sweethearts & Heroes has encountered. Murphy co-wrote the book with Brian McKeon, of New York. 13 Pillows is available on Amazon. Digital or printed copies are available upon request. The audiobook is on Audible.
(On Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/13Pil... )
For more information on Sweethearts & Heroes, visit: sweetheartsandheroes.com .
Or watch these short, impactful trailers:
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On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweet...
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channe...
