OWENSVILLE, IN (WFIE) -
Kirk Smalley has a message to young kids who are bullied: "you matter."
His message is the inspiration behind the organization "Stand For The Silent".
Today Smalley spoke to the students of Owensville Community School.
Kirk Smalley is a construction worker by trade, but since his son, Ty, committed suicide two years ago, he has devoted his life to speaking to students in schools around the world, free of charge, about bullying.
Kirk Smalley 16:01 "I am literally booked every single day through the end of May," said Smalley.
"I lost my job...because I can't quit. We're saving lives. We're changing lives. If we can change one bully or save one baby from doing what Ty did, then it's worth anything we have to do. "
His message to kids is "I Am Somebody" and judging by the fact that for an hour and a half you could hear a pin drop in this cafeteria, you can tell it gets through to kids.
"It had a bigger meaning than most of the presentations we have because all the bullying programs we've been to, we haven't had any one who's been bullied or that affected by bullying," said Katie Scott, eighth grader.
Smalley says Says he will continue speaking to kids, because he sees it working.
"We get messages on Facebook, via email... From these kids that say 'I actually had a plan. I was actually gonna do it tonight while mom and daddy where asleep, until I heard you speak," said Smalley.
If you want to find out how to get Smalley or his wife to speak at your school, or if you are a victim of bullying and need help, you can go to the website for Stand For The Silent by clicking here.
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Kirk Smalley has a message to young kids who are bullied: "you matter."
