No child should ever feel alone — especially on the playground. But for children with developmental disabilities, that feeling of isolation happens far too often.
In fact, children with developmental disabilities are 2 to 3 times more likely to be bullied than their peers without disabilities. A CDC study reveals that 44.4% of kids with developmental disabilities experienced bullying, compared to 31.3% of those without. And right here in Utah, 40% of children with autism — and up to 60% of those with Asperger’s syndrome — report being bullied in school.
The Sit With Me initiative is a community-powered effort to change that.
We’re working with schools, local donors, and compassionate businesses to raise funds to install “Sit With Me” benches on school campuses — safe spaces where students can feel seen, heard, and included. These benches spark friendships, open conversations, and quietly remind every child that they belong.
Bring Empathy and Inclusion to Your Playground. Be part of a movement that’s changing the culture of Utah schools—one bench at a time.
Sit with Me is more than just a place to sit. It’s a symbol of empathy, kindness, and connection for every child. In Utah, nearly 1 in 5 students reports being bullied, and children with developmental delays face bullying rates as high as 60%.
Your school can take a powerful stand by joining the Sit with Me initiative to promote inclusion, reduce bullying, and help students build meaningful friendships across differences.
Use our quick and easy request form to let us know how many benches your school would like. Each bench is designed to foster peer connection, especially for children who may feel left out.
This form also includes the option to inspire your students with a message of compassion and courage. On your request form, you can invite a Kids on the Move leader to speak at an upcoming assembly.
Our leaders will share:
Join the Sit With Us Campaign – Powered by Kids on the Move
Let’s make your playground a place where every child feels seen, supported, and invited in.
Fill out this quick form to request your school’s Buddy Bench and access optional assembly support to inspire kindness, empathy, and inclusion in your students.
Support the kind of change that lasts. As a business, your donation helps place a Sit With Me bench in a school — complete with educational materials, kindness activities, and impact reporting so you know the difference you’re making.
Sponsorship is more than a donation — it’s a visible way to show your commitment to inclusion, accessibility, and compassion.
Support the kind of change that lasts. Your business can help place a Sit With Me bench in a Utah school — complete with educational materials, kindness activities, and measurable impact.
Sponsorship isn’t just a donation — it’s a visible statement of your values: inclusion, accessibility, and compassion. A Kids on the Move leader will contact you to help get started.
This is your opportunity to stand up for inclusion, empathy, and connection — right where it matters most: the playground.
Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, friend, advocate, or simply someone who believes that every child deserves to feel seen and included, this campaign is for you.
With as little as $5, you can help place a bench in a local school and give a child a place to feel welcomed. Whether you’re a parent, a student, or a neighbor — you can join this kindness movement.
Bullying affects 1 in 5 Utah students — and the numbers are even more staggering for children with developmental delays and disabilities. But small acts of kindness can change school culture and childhood outcomes. With your help, we can turn an ordinary bench into a symbol of safety, connection, and hope.
Let’s create a school environment where no one has to sit alone.
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A new Buddy Bench Movement to include children, reduce bullying, creating a culture of kindness and allow children to make friends.
Request a bench with the form on this page and Kids on the Move will reach out to you with more information on how to fundraise for a Sit With Me buddy bench for your school!
Any schools in Utah are eligible!
Sign up in the form under the school section on this page.
Yes! There are multiple colors to choose from. You can get a color close to your school color!
You can donate as an individual, business, or start a fundraiser for your school.
No! There is no deadline, this movement will continue this upcoming school year.
Please contact marketing@kotm.org if you have any questions about our Sit With Me buddy bench movement.
Mat Datstrop, Chief Financial Officer at KOTM, truly embodies a blend of expertise and visionary leadership. Joining Kids on the Move in September 2019, Mat brought a rich history of accomplishments, having served as CFO for manufacturing and software companies. His successful track record includes starting and selling three businesses, showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit and strategic insight. As a licensed CPA and a Six Sigma Black Belt, Mat’s skill set is uniquely suited to driving innovation and accuracy within financial processes. His passion for integrating technology and developing robust accounting systems positions KOTM for long-term success. In his role, Mat is deeply dedicated to creating sustainable impacts that will echo throughout KOTM for decades. His presence in the organization is marked by a steadfast commitment to fostering an environment of lasting change, ensuring families benefit from his transformative work well into the future.
Ryan Erickson, the Chief Operating Officer of KOTM, brings extensive experience and a passionate commitment to nurturing innovation and growth. With over two decades spent as a thought leader and innovator across leadership roles in the medical, software start-ups, technical consulting, and information technology sectors, he has steered successful technology companies to new heights.
Ryan’s expertise is unparalleled. His dedication to mentoring entrepreneurs and CEOs in transforming ideas into reality speaks to his compassionate nature and deep-seated commitment to growth. Serving on several software and technical company boards, Ryan consistently helps these companies reach new heights.
At KOTM, Ryan is uniquely positioned to guide the organization into its next 40 years. His diverse skill set enables KOTM to not only meet current challenges with agility but also to strategically position itself for future growth under his committed leadership. Ryan continues to inspire hope and innovation, reinforcing KOTM’s status as a beacon of support and transformation for families everywhere.
Rutherford is the strategic visionary and Chief Executive Officer of Kids on the Move (KOTM). A multifaceted and sophisticated businesswoman, she has led the trailblazing multimillion-dollar non-profit in its commitment to providing essential and comprehensive support, education, and therapies for children with delays and disabilities. Rutherford has now spent 20 years in executive leadership roles within the telecommunications, genealogy, real estate, health care services, and education industries. Her notable contributions lie in her perseverance to find impossible and impactful solutions. Rutherford is skilled at reverse-engineering goals by mapping out exactly what is required for a successful outcome.
To help raise $150M to expand KOTM’s support services and establish a state-of-the-art center, Rutherford has partnered with Forbes Books to author and publish Chasing The Impossible, a captivating exposé delving into Kids on the Move’s transformative work. With it, she uncovers the compelling stories of resilience and hope from children, families, doctors, and community members who tenaciously pushed forward when faced with impossible odds or challenges.
Her profound understanding of what it takes to overcome the impossible stems from her own journey as a survivor of abuse and trauma, which has shaped her philanthropic missions, her intuitive nature, and her steadfast leadership. As a CEO, mom, speaker, and philanthropist, Rutherford believes discipline is one of the highest forms of self-love, consistently putting in the necessary work every single day to provide impactful solutions for others, promote a balanced and holistic lifestyle, and create opportunities for continuous growth and empowerment around the world.
