NORTH SALEM, N.Y. - An educator from the Brewster Central School District is continuing his mission to spread Sweethearts & Heroes’ anti-bullying messages to local students, and by the end of this month, his own students could see him soaked with a bucket of ice water.
Eric Buzzetto, a physical education teacher at JFK Elementary, delivered Sweethearts & Heroes’ foundational, anti-bullying presentation on Friday, April 11, at Pequenakonck Elementary, where his son attends school.
Sweethearts & Heroes aims to prevent hopelessness, bullying and suicide by providing dynamic, inspiring content that centers on the human interaction skills necessary for schools and other organizations to change all aspects of their culture — skills such as empathy, compassion and teamwork. Sweethearts & Heroes teaches people about HOPE (Hold On, Possibilities Exist).
“What makes Sweethearts & Heroes so impactful is their focus on emotional intelligence and human connection,” Buzzetto said. “Through engaging presentations and heartfelt storytelling, they help children see the importance of empathy and kindness in their everyday interactions.
Their message of HOPE is something every child needs to hear, especially in today’s world. Sweethearts & Heroes leaves a lasting impression, planting seeds of compassion and resilience that grow far beyond the classroom. For any school, community group, or organization looking to bring a message of positivity, connection, and true emotional growth to their children, Sweethearts & Heroes is a remarkable choice.”
At JFK, Buzzetto’s students are heavily engaged in the annual April Push-Up Challenge, because if they reach 50,000 push-ups by the end of this month, he will be showered with a bucket of ice water.
“We're launching a fun and exciting push-up challenge to build both strength and school spirit!” Buzzetto said. “If the school can complete 50,000 push ups as a school, they’ll earn the ultimate reward: the chance to dump a big, icy bucket of water on me! It’s a lighthearted way to promote the Sweethearts & Heroes message, perseverance, and a little friendly motivation and school spirit.”
In addition to powerful anti-bullying assemblies, Sweethearts & Heroes offers the popular and impactful Circle, which is built on the ancient ritual of communicating in a circle to build compassion and empathy, as well as STEP (the Student Teacher Empathy Program), which teaches high school students how to present Sweethearts & Heroes’ signature assemblies for students in grades K-2 and 3-5.
During this school year, Sweethearts & Heroes started offering Train the Trainer, which teaches current educators how to weave their own Circle trainings for incoming staff.
Sweethearts & Heroes’ central team of traveling presenters includes: 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 Program Director & Circle Specialist, also of New York. Josiah McKeon and Wyatt Hackett, both of New York, also visit schools for Sweethearts & Heroes.
Murphy was thrilled when Buzzetto contacted him and asked if he could present Sweethearts & Heroes’ assembly at PQ.
“It’s a first and an honor to have an educator deliver our anti-bullying assembly to students,” Murphy said. “You can’t make this stuff up. I’m so happy about this. And I hope Eric gets soaked at the end of this month!”
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 tailors its presentations and professional development workshops for businesses, non-profits and civic groups. Murphy said, “We go where we’re needed. That’s what heroes do.”
In November 2024, during Veterans Day week, Yarosh released A Bridge Named Amos, the inspiring, true story of his hero and service dog, Amos, who died last October, just before the book went to press. Born on Christmas Day, Amos was a lovable, black Lab who traveled with Yarosh over thousands of miles to hundreds of schools with Sweethearts & Heroes. Together, they taught children and adults how to overcome challenges, celebrate differences and embrace empathy. A Bridge Named Amos is told from Amos’ warm perspective, and it comes with a free downloadable workbook. OESJ Central School District (NY) Art Teacher Kevin Cannon illustrated the book.
Sweethearts & Heroes’ other books include "Boredom School: For Those Bored in School," a collection of captivating, humorous and thought-provoking poems by Pat Fish; and "13 Pillows For Affective Teachers," a novel by Tom Murphy and Brian McKeon, of New York, that covers the themes of HOPE, Empathy and Action in the Sweethearts & Heroes curriculum.
In September 2024, during National Suicide Prevention Month, about 140 students from seven Upstate New York schools attended Sweethearts & Heroes’ first three-day — and phone-free — Youth Leadership Summit with Spartan Race at Killington Resort in Vermont.
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 on Sweethearts & Heroes, visit inktr.ee/sweetheartsandheroes
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