My Salon fund raiser to benefit the Kindness Above Malice Foundation is April 30

MONROE - Community members are looking to create some good out of the recent tragic death of Monroe resident Kameron Jacobsen by holding a fund raiser to support the foundation created in his memory. The April 30 Kindness Above Malice, or “KAM” Foundation - named in honor of Kameron, or “Kam,” seeks to raise both awareness and as much money as possible to support the foundation’s work to “affirm those individual students that have raised the self esteem of another person thereby preventing the injury that results from bullying.” The Jacobsen family, who created the foundation, said on its Web site, www.kindnessabovemalice.org, that it recognizes “that protecting and nurturing a high self esteem is the key to unlocking the motivating factors behind bullying, for both the bully and the victim. We also acknowledge that bullying comes in many different forms and from many different sources.” The family said Kameron was a victim of bullying, adding he “also defended those without a voice, those left behind by their peers. He was humble and compassionate, and he never asked for the recognition he so greatly deserved. As a foundation, we hope to acknowledge that compassion in others.” Goshen resident Barbara Morrsion, owner of My Salon on Route 17M in Monroe, is offering discounted salon services on Saturday, April 30, with the hope that as many area parents and their children will stop by and take advantage of haircuts, hair braiding, foot and back massages, eye brow and lip waxing. All proceeds, she added, will benefit the foundation. “We wanted to jump-start KAM,” Morrison said. “We’re doing this because of all the suicides that have happened and that’s why she (Wanda Jacobsen, Kameron’s mother) is doing this. It’s an issue that needs to be addressed. Her organization happens to be about bullying and that’s what happened to her son. Our goal is to get the awareness factor out there, and we hope to also raise as much money as possible.” Monroe resident Gabey Curley, a student at Monroe-Woodbury High School, is helping to coordinate student participation. “We just want to help out wherever we can, so we can spread awareness of anti-bullying,” said Curley. “It does go on here (in school). I don’t think it’s a lot. People don’t realize it does. I haven’t experienced it, but it does affect people. I think it’s more on the computer and I’ve seen it online. It’s anonymous, but it’s still bullying.” Curley felt the fund raiser could have a big impact on students. “They’ll (students) be doing something about it versus just talking about it in school,” she said. “It will show there are a lot of people who care about this and want to help and show how many people care about Kam. I think this will help his family.” Morrison had her own reasons, both as a business owner and parent. “We care,” she said. “I have kids and thank God I got them through that stuff. If we can help one another, that’s important. It’s not just me as a salon owner, but as a parent. This (teen suicide) is every parent’s nightmare. You don’t want to lose your child.” - Nancy Kriz