Spotsylvania Towne Centre hosted an anti-bullying pledge signing this week with area school, law enforcement and business leaders.

The purpose of the event was to raise awareness for anti-bullying awareness programs.

"Our goal is to assist parents and teachers in teaching children to be kind to one another and to reject bullying behavior," said a spokesperson for the retail center.

Spotsylvania County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Baker and School Board Members William Blaine, Linda Wieland, James Meyer and Dawn Shelly received a copy of "Captain McFinn and Friends S.H.A.R.K. Patrol Kits" for use in the schools.

S.H.A.R.K. Patrol is a new educational program developed for kindergarten through third grade students, based on the anti-bullying theme from the children’s book series Captain McFinn and Friends, according to the website.

S.H.A.R.K. stands for Students * Help * Achieve * Respect * and Kindness.

In the photo:

Top Row, from left to right: Captain McFinn; Towne Centre Marketing Director Amanda Carmody; Spotsylvania County School Board Members Linda Wieland and Dawn Shelley; Towne Centre Property Manager Mark Gentry; Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office First Sergeant Shaun Jones.

Bottom row, from left to right: Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office Captain Mike Harvey; Spotsylvania County School Board Member William Blaine; Spotsylvania County Sheriff Roger Harris, Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office Captain Lisa Wright, Spotsylvania County School Board Member James Meyer; Spotsylvania County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Scott Baker.

Spotsylvania Towne Centre provided this information to Fredericksburg Patch.