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Mother presents anti-bullying book to Austintown students In honor of daughter
By SAMANTHA PHILLIPS
AUSTINTOWN
Diane Demetrios has sold 21,000 candy bars to purchase copies of an anti-bullying children’s book she wrote, so she can donate them to second-graders at local schools.
The fundraising is part of the Let’s Make a Difference campaign she created with the nonprofit Making Kids Count in 2014.
The book, ‘Listen to Leslie,” was written in honor of Demetrios’ daughter, Leslie, who died of a drug overdose in 2013. Demetrios, of Boardman, believes childhood bullying played a part in Leslie’s problems.
Demetrios’ daughter-in-law, Lora Demetrios, reads the book to children at the presentations, and asks questions throughout the reading to teach students about compassion and anti-bullying.
“It definitely fills my heart with joy to see the kids’ faces,” Demetrios said. “As long as I can, I want to keep this going. If I can help at least one kid, it’s worth it.”
Jana Coffin, co-president of Making Kids Count, said Demetrios approached the nonprofit, wanting to create an anti-bullying campaign in Leslie’s honor.
The first year, Let’s Make a Difference gave a presentation to one school. Now, the campaign donates books to Austintown, Boardman, Poland and South Range schools.
Demetrios said she would like to see the program grow and add schools. LMD is working on adding Canfield, Coffin said.
The schools don’t have to pay a dime – Demetrios takes care of funding by selling candy bars at some local businesses.
Lora Demetrios said they are working to give a presentation to students in Canfield as well.
“I’m really proud of her [Diane] for creating something positive out of a negative situation,” Lora Demetrios said.
Diane Demetrios said the program focuses on second-grade students because at that age, they can read and understand the book’s message.
“They have to be kind to each other, accept each other for who they are,” she said. “Everyone has a purpose and a special talent. ... No one should feel unwanted.”
In the book, Leslie moves to a new city and starts attending a new school. A boy named Lester makes fun of her for how she looks, but in the end apologizes when Leslie explains that life would be boring if everyone looked the same and enjoyed the same thing.
Lora Demetrios stopped in the middle of the story and asked the students: “What makes someone beautiful on the inside?” to which one young student answered, “Kindness.”