💔 Stand With Rodney: From Pain to Purpose
My name is Rodney Ward, and I’m a 38-year-old dishwasher and ULC ordained minister from Detroit, Michigan.
I live with PTSD, depression, and anxiety after years of bullying and harassment—at work, at school, and even growing up at home.
I also have a learning disability and was in special education from middle school through high school. Because I’m different, people have treated me unfairly most of my life.
💔 I want to give a big, emotional thank-you to Paul Staehle from 90 Day Fiancé for sharing my story. It means so much that someone saw my pain and cared enough to share my video. When you’ve been through bullying and hard times, knowing someone believes in you can bring you to tears. Thank you, Paul, for helping me feel seen when I felt invisible.
💔 Life at Work
I currently wash plastic pizza-dough trays covered in mold and mildew every day. The job is tough and takes a toll on my body. Constantly standing in wet shoes and harsh cleaning chemicals has even caused me to develop athlete’s foot, making it painful to walk sometimes. A coworker once threatened me and mocked me, so I filed a police report in Livonia to protect myself. Even though nothing changed, I keep going because I have to help my mother with rent—and if I can’t, I won’t have a place to stay.
🌧 A Lifetime of Bullying
I’ve been bullied since childhood—by classmates, coworkers, and even people close to me.
In high school but still graduated , I was teased, pushed, and humiliated in front of others. Those memories never fully go away.
Living with PTSD, depression, and anxiety has been hard. I eat when I’m hurting because it’s the only thing that calms me sometimes, but I keep trusting God that my pain will lead to something meaningful.
🌟 My Goal: The Anti-BullyNator App
Out of all this pain came a dream—an idea for an app called “The Anti-BullyNator.”
It’s something I want to create to help people who face bullying or harassment at work or school.
The app will:
-
Let users safely record and report bullying
-
Use GPS tracking for safety
-
Include an AI chat for emotional support
-
List real mental-health and help resources
I want to build this because I don’t want anyone to feel hopeless or invisible like I have. With your help, I can bring this app to life and give people a safe place to reach out for help.
💖 Thank-You to Those Who Inspire Me
Paul Staehle, Perez Hilton, June Shannon, Todrick Hall, Nick Lowery, Rowdy Gaines, Alec Lindstrom, Tom Brooks, My Psychotherapist Joni Shinn (MSW, LMSW) and my mother, who helped me with this campaign continues to believe in me when life gets hard.
🙏 How Your Donations Will Help
Your generosity will go toward:
-
Therapy and recovery costs
-
Development of The Anti-BullyNator app and website
-
Basic living expenses while I work toward something better
-
Marketing and outreach to help share the message
I also completed the Fundraising & Financial Management Essentials Certificate Program through NonprofitReady.org to help me learn how to manage funds responsibly and build trust with supporters.
athlete’s foot
❤️ Why I’m Asking for Help
I’ve been told all my life that I’m not good enough, but I’m still here—still trying.
This fundraiser isn’t for a company or an organization; it’s for me, my healing, and a dream that can help others.
If you’ve ever been bullied, mistreated, or felt like no one cared, please know that you’re not alone.
Your donation—big or small or just a share—will help me heal, help me build The Anti-BullyNator, and help others find hope.
Thank you so much for standing with me.
– Rodney Ward
Redford,MI
