Local News
Tiny Girl Big Dream Returns To FDL
Silica For Your Home, The Fond du Lac Evening Optimist Club, and Envision Greater Fond du Lac are
proud to welcome Acacia (nicknamed ‘Tiny”) Woodley, the founder of Tiny Girl, Big Dream back to the Fond
du Lac area. Acacia will be in Fond du Lac this Thursday and Friday (March 15 and 16) to unveil her
Friendship Benches at Parkside, Chegwin, and Evans Elementary Schools, as well as The Fond du Lac
Boys and Girls Club. Acacia was in Fond du Lac a little over a year ago, delivering Friendship Benches and
telling her story to four local elementary schools.
Now 16 years old, Acacia’s big dream began when she was 10 years old. She was bullied at the age of nine
after her family moved to Florida and she started attending a new school. It was a very painful time for
Acacia. Even though she loved school, she did not want to go because of the bullying.
after her family moved to Florida and she started attending a new school. It was a very painful time for
Acacia. Even though she loved school, she did not want to go because of the bullying.
Acacia developed the Friendship Bench as a place that children of all ages could go to if they were being
picked on or bullied, are new to school and don’t know anyone, or they’re just having a bad day. Other
children would then know that child needs a friend. She began by putting a Friendship Bench into her
school, and the idea blossomed into her dream that every school in America and Canada would have a
bench. “Every bench is different and unique, just like all of the children who use them. That’s what makes
them special,” Acacia tells the children as she unveils them.
picked on or bullied, are new to school and don’t know anyone, or they’re just having a bad day. Other
children would then know that child needs a friend. She began by putting a Friendship Bench into her
school, and the idea blossomed into her dream that every school in America and Canada would have a
bench. “Every bench is different and unique, just like all of the children who use them. That’s what makes
them special,” Acacia tells the children as she unveils them.
“Acacia’s story is amazing,” said Tom Schneider, President of Silica For Your Home. “I had the opportunity
to meet Acacia about four years ago when she spoke at a trade show and she captivated all of us with her
courage. She was a victim of bullying and being left out. Rather than shutting down, she took her experience
and decided to make a change,” said Schneider. “Her story is very powerful, and her heart is huge. My goal
is to eventually have a Friendship Bench in every Fond du Lac Elementary School, so when Marrianne
Bugni reached out to me from the Fond du Lac Evening Optimist Club and wanted to donate two benches to
Parkside and Chegwin Elementary, I was very excited.”
to meet Acacia about four years ago when she spoke at a trade show and she captivated all of us with her
courage. She was a victim of bullying and being left out. Rather than shutting down, she took her experience
and decided to make a change,” said Schneider. “Her story is very powerful, and her heart is huge. My goal
is to eventually have a Friendship Bench in every Fond du Lac Elementary School, so when Marrianne
Bugni reached out to me from the Fond du Lac Evening Optimist Club and wanted to donate two benches to
Parkside and Chegwin Elementary, I was very excited.”
After the four benches are unveiled in the schools this week, there will be a total of eight benches that have
been donated to Fond du Lac and North Fond du Lac Elementary Schools by Silica For Your Home, The
Fond du Lac Evening Optimist Club, and Envision Greater Fond du Lac.
been donated to Fond du Lac and North Fond du Lac Elementary Schools by Silica For Your Home, The
Fond du Lac Evening Optimist Club, and Envision Greater Fond du Lac.
Continue to watch for updates on her visit to Fond du Lac on Envision Greater Fond du Lac’s Facebook
page at www.facebook.com/EnvisionGreaterFDL/.
page at www.facebook.com/EnvisionGreaterFDL/.