[/caption]
[/caption]
[/caption]
Now...if you want to follow our blog, you are more than welcome to do so. If you'd like to invite your friends, co-workers, cousins, distant relatives and long lost high school buddies to 
[/caption]
Okay - don't forget to comment in order to enter for the 
[/caption]
[/caption]
Mommy Perks is pleased to feature an interview with Catherine Grant of CatiCares.com. As a mother of a young daughter, I am very proud of all that Cati has accomplished. At the age of 16, she has done more to help others than many do in a life time. I am proud of you Cati and proud of your parents for raising one terrific young lady.
“Cyber Bullying is the act of using technology to purposely harm, harass or defame another person.”
I met Cati on twitter, through Sue Scheff. Cati is striving to educate tweens and teens on the issues of cyber bullying. Please read the information below and share it with others!
1. Cati, tell us a little about yourself:
I am currently a 16 year old junior at Scripps Ranch High School in San Diego, CA. I was named a 2009 Prudential Spirit of Community, Distinguished Finalist for my work on caticares.com, received the President’s Volunteer Service Award, am an All American nominee from the national cheerleader’s association, 2 time nationally ranked cheerleading champion and a San Diego City Science Fair Finalist. My greatest honor so far was having the county of San Diego declare “Catherine Grant Day” on March 3, 2009 in San Diego. I live with my mom Jamie, step-dad Michael and my sister, Caroline (age 13). I have a Chihuahua named Bella. I plan on becoming a race horse vet and will continue my work with CatiCares. I am also a Girl Scout 
2. What is your “mission”?
To educate my peers about internet safety and cyber bully prevention. To unite the whole world against cyber bullying. I started this site on my 15th birthday. I asked my mom for the site as my only gift. She gave me the gift for 10 years! I also started a CatiCares Club at SRHS; a club where members pledge not to cyber bully others. I encourage youth to start a cyber bully prevention club at their schools, also. I met a lot of amazing people when I toured the country this past summer raising awareness about cyber bully prevention. I love meeting new people and people who are ready for change.
3. What led you to want to help others?
In 6th grade a former friend accused me of stealing a portable gaming system and the bullying over this incident escalated for years. I never did steal anything from her but she would never let it go. And because I had moved to the community only a year prior, I still didn’t know a lot of people. It became a lynch mob mentality. She started telling anyone who would listen that I stole stuff from them too. At first, I tried to defend myself. Then that turned to more arguing and more apologizing. It was a never ending cycle. I didn’t know where to turn. After I wanted to quit school my mom got involved and was shocked at what had been happening. She got the school involved but it didn’t stop there. When we moved on to middle school the girl started it all over again and this time it included death threats via MySpace over getting in trouble in elementary school. She would follow me around campus, yelling “ewwwwww” and trying to embarrass me. The school kept giving her warnings and she would quit for a couple of months and then start again. Finally in high school, she was given a final warning to stop harassing me. My mother called the police but they said there was nothing they could do because there were no laws at the time. I am lucky that I had my mother for support because it might have had a different ending. I can not stress enough to anyone who is being bullied to talk to a trusted adult and ask for HELP! They will listen! When I searched the internet for sites for teens about cyber bullying, I couldn’t find any so I became motivated to start my own so I could help others.
4. How has your helping others impacted your OWN life?
This has changed my life forever. I never expected anyone to say my actions are saving others. I never felt that important. But that is the lasting effect of bullying. It leaves lasting scars on your confidence. Part of that drives me to succeed even more because I never feel like I have accomplished enough. I am thankful that my mother allowed me to have the gift of CatiCares. com. She always has a “Why not you?” mentality. It has become more important to me than I ever imagined. I will continue this work the rest of my life.
5. What advice would you offer to other teens who might want to work to make the world a better place? Where/how do they begin?
Starting something new is the hardest part but once you decided what to do, make a plan and get started. Ask for help when you need it, get your parents or a trusted adult involved in planning. Be prepared to succeed or fail. I did try to mentally prepare myself for the fact that CatiCares might make me more of a target to my bully. But preventing others from going through this became more important than me.
6. What can others do to help YOU?
Being named a Kids Are Heroes was an amazing honor and being invited to “Kids Are Heroes Day” would be a wonderful chance to continue spreading my positive message. I would love help in getting there and people can donate to make sure that happens at http://www.giveforward.org/caticares/. I am always thankful when people visit my site and leave encouraging comments on my guest book. It really keeps me motivated.
BRAVO for Cati! Nice interview, Shara and Cati! I just became acquainted with Cati via twitter @SueScheff @mommyperks the other day! Keep up the great work, both Cati and Shara!!!