Caleb Williams Hosts Anti-Bullying Event

Sophomore quarterback Caleb Williams’ passion shone through his foundation’s effort to promote awareness for bullying. Through the Caleb Cares Foundation, Williams’ new partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles hosted an anti-bullying assembly at the Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation gym during National Bullying Prevention Month. “I was in the Boys & Girls Club, and being able to give back to make sure they are being seen and heard is an awesome experience,” Williams said.

The Boys & Girls Clubs encouraged their students to take a stand against bullying by displaying posters that read “Be a Game Changer,” “Real Players Don’t Bully” and “Take a Stand And Unite Against Bullying.”

Students from the ages of six to 11 sat in the bleachers of the gym and waited for the anti-bullying assembly to start.

The assembly started with fifth grade leaders asking Williams questions about life as a student-athlete, Caleb Cares and bullying. When the fifth grade leaders asked their questions to Williams, he encouraged the students by telling them, “You got this.”

One fifth grade leader asked Williams how he handles bullying as a football player. “My support system, which includes my dad, my mom and my mentors are always there for me whenever I need to speak up and talk about anything,” Williams said, “and staying consistent with a routine helps me. For students, you should find someone who is able to sit there and speak to you so that you can talk and let everything out.” After Williams answered questions, the Boys & Girls Clubs facilitated anti-bullying skits for students to understand how to identify different forms of bullying: physical, verbal, social and cyber.

USC Annenberg undergraduate and graduate students volunteered to act out the anti-bullying skits with fifth graders.

One of the nine Annenberg volunteers, first-year graduate public relations and advertising student Anayissa Rebollo expressed how leading cyberbullying skits inspired her to volunteer again. “As not only an SC student, but as someone who grew up going to community centers I want to remind students that they can achieve their dreams because a lot of the kids that I talked to said that they wanted to go to USC,” Robello said.

Williams’ foundation presented the first-ever Caleb Cares Hero Award to a student who modeled kindness, empathy, respect and has been a good model to their peers. This award will be presented to a new student every month for the next year. The Challengers Clubhouse director Alejandra Liera announced that fourth grader Nylah F. was awarded the first Caleb Cares Hero Award. Liera said Nylah overcame challenges, is a leader to her peers in school and the Challengers Clubhouse and refrained from retaliating against bullying.

Ferns received gifts from Williams’ partnerships: a Beats by Dre wireless earbuds, Futuremood Aurabliss Sunglasses, Hall of Goats’ Caleb Cares Hero Award t-shirt, Fatburger and Alo gift certificates, custom bobblehead of Williams and a USC Annenberg backpack. “I feel awesome,” Nylah said. “I was proud of myself and I was pretty shy.” Nylah was inspired to continue to show her peers how to be kind to others in school and at the Boys & Girls Clubs at Metro Los Angeles. “If someone is feeling hurt, sad, uncomfortable, I will rub their back and ask how they are feeling,” Nylah said. “Then, I would say sometimes life is hard but you have to get through the hard things first and tell them to take a deep breath.”

Williams’ ordered a Fatburger food truck to feed the students, volunteers and Boys & Girls Clubs’ staff members. The quarterback handed boxes of hamburgers and chips to the students. With about 50 students waiting for their hamburgers, some students stepped out of line to throw the football and ask Williams for a signature. At one point, he played rock, paper, scissors with a student and a line of students formed as each student waited eagerly for their chance to take on the Heisman Trophy candidate.

Williams hopes to be a frequent visitor at the Boys & Girls Clubs and for students not to view him differently due to his position on the gridiron. “Hopefully, the students will all know me and won’t look at me as Caleb who plays football,” Williams said. “Hopefully, the students see me only as the Caleb who comes and supports them.” The anti-bullying event opened Williams’ eyes to the impact he is leaving on students for bullying and mental health awareness. He hopes to make another effort soon to continue spreading awareness.