Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 14 hours ago
Charlee Funes was in 7th grade at Gardner Grade School in Illinois when a bully grabbed her hair, tripped her, and smashed her face into the ground.
When her mom, Kim, arrived at the school she had an ice-pack on her face and her tooth was broken in half. The school tried to downplay it saying they simply “bumped” into each other and the Principal wouldn’t even talk to her without an attorney present.
Thanks to social media, we quickly got a hold of the Funes family and offered to sponsor Charlee in our Gracie Bullyproof program at our Certified Training Center in Elgin, Illinois.
After just a few weeks of training, Charlee was a completely different person.
I got to speak to Charlee after her first day at school (8th grade) and when her mom said “You gave my daughter back,” I had to hold back tears.
Charlee is going to be okay.
It's amazing how a week of jiu-jitsu and the belief that you are worth defending can change your life forever. If you or someone you know is suffering from bullying, send them to BullyproofSummerCamp.com to learn about our 5-day summer camp in July. And if they are getting targeted by bullies but can't afford the camp, contact us and we'll find a way to make it happen. Money should never be the reason a child can't get the help they need.
Charlee Funes was in 7th grade at Gardner Grade School in Illinois when a bully grabbed her hair, tripped her, and smashed her face into the ground.
When her mom, Kim, arrived at the school she had an ice-pack on her face and her tooth was broken in half. The school tried to downplay it saying they simply “bumped” into each other and the Principal wouldn’t even talk to her without an attorney present.
Thanks to social media, we quickly got a hold of the Funes family and offered to sponsor Charlee in our Gracie Bullyproof program at our Certified Training Center in Elgin, Illinois.
After just a few weeks of training, Charlee was a completely different person.
I got to speak to Charlee after her first day at school (8th grade) and when her mom said “You gave my daughter back,” I had to hold back tears.
Charlee is going to be okay.
It's amazing how a week of jiu-jitsu and the belief that you are worth defending can change your life forever. If you or someone you know is suffering from bullying, send them to BullyproofSummerCamp.com to learn about our 5-day summer camp in July. And if they are getting targeted by bullies but can't afford the camp, contact us and we'll find a way to make it happen. Money should never be the reason a child can't get the help they need.
