Quarterbacks of Life
Quarterbacks of Life are everyday people. These are real-life role models that have overcome obstacles in their lives. And they have triumphed. In the face of great challenge, they did not give up. They have beaten the odds.
The Quarterbacks of Life at Beating the Odds Foundation believe that attitude
and dreams are everything. By adopting a "never give up" attitude, anyone can
persevere and realize their dreams. It's just that kind of positive role model
that today's youth desperately needs. And at Beating the Odds Foundation, we are
giving children across the country access to people that can help them succeed
through our Quarterbacks of Life Mentoring Program.
Beating the Odds Foundation works in collaboration with school districts and
parents to provide a structured mentoring program. Mentoring is a process that
brings young people together with caring, committed individuals who offer guidance,
support and encouragement to help the young people develop their full potential
in life and become productive citizens.
Here are some of the Quarterbacks of Life that have impacted America's youth
through their amazing stories:
Rocky Bleier
Rocky Bleier was not a very big man nor exceptionally fast on his feet, but he was an extremely determined athlete. His goal was to play professional football. With much determination, Rocky was selected in the next-to-the-last round of the 1968 draft to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Before he could prove himself as a rookie, he was drafted again, this time for combat duty in Vietnam. A few months later, crippled by enemy rifle fire and grenade wounds to both legs, Bleier faced his biggest challenge. His wounds were so severe that they threatened his ability to ever walk again. Rocky not only regained the use of his legs, but went on to become one of the most well-respected and celebrated professional players of all time.Bethany Hamilton
Bethany Hamilton at age five knew she wanted to become a competitive surfer. Her dream became a reality. She is a member of the USA Surf Team. At age 13, Bethany was surfing in Kauai, Hawaii, when a 15-foot tiger shark attacked her. Bethany lost her arm. The near-fatal shark attack did not stop her, Bethany's love for surfing and her determination made her get back on the surfboard. Bethany recently placed fifth in the national Surfing Championship in California and she is the winner of the 2004 ESPY Award for “Comeback Athlete of the Year.”Bob “Mr. Inspiration” Wieland
Bob “Mr. Inspiration” Wieland, serving as a medic during the Vietnam War, lost both of his legs when he stepped on and detonated a mortar round booby-trapped in the ground. Bob has become truly inspirational to America's youth by encouraging them to never give up on their dreams. Of his many great accomplishments since returning home from Vietnam, Bob is best known for his amazing 2,784 mile walk on his arms across America that lasted 3 years, 8 months and 6 days.Kim Cooper
Kim Cooper knew from an early age that she wanted to travel. She also knew that most women in aviation are flight attendants, and most pilots are men. Kim refused to let that stereotype stop her from achieving her dream of becoming an airline pilot. She started flying at age 17, and at age 19 she was already teaching other people how to fly. After years of hard work flight instructing, flying cargo, and working as a corporate pilot, Kim attained her goal of becoming an airline pilot. She was one of 3 women out of 400 pilots at the company. After September 11th, Kim's airline went out of business, but she refused to let the loss of her job ruin her dream. She remembered her favorite saying, “everything happens for a reason.” She started over again, and was offered a pilot position with Southwest Airlines. Out of 5,995 pilots for Southwest Airlines, approximately 188 are females. Southwest is a wonderful company to work for, and Kim now truly has her “dream job.” Her story is an inspiration to all students, especially young females, to believe in your dreams.Thurl Bailey
In 1983, Thurl Bailey led the North Carolina State basketball team to one of the most incredible upsets in sports history to win the 1983 NCAA basketball championship. Years before that, Thurl was told by his junior high basketball coach that he would never make it in basketball. Proving that anything is possible with hard work, in 1983, Thurl led NC State in scoring and rebounds. The Utah Jazz drafted Thurl in 1983 as the 7th pick of the draft. Jazz management reported that he was selected for the quality of his character, as well as, the quality of his game. He has given hours of service to his community and received numerous awards for leadership. He has directed basketball camps for the youth since 1984, where he teaches young people lessons about life and basketball. In addition to professional speaking, Thurl is a broadcast analyst for the Utah Jazz and the University of Utah, an actor, and an award winning singer/songwriter.Adam Taliaferro
On September 23, 2000, Adam Taliaferro had a lot going for him. He was a young promising football player on a full scholarship at Penn State University, who seemed to have a career in the NFL in front of him. But after a jarring tackle on an Ohio State running back, he woke up flat on his back in a hospital, unable to feel anything below his neck. His doctors said he would probably never walk again. Determined to prove those doctors wrong, Adam embarked on a courageous journey that ended with Adam walking on his own two feet once again. His story touched the nation when on national television; nearly one year after the injury, Adam led his team out onto the football field at Beaver Stadium. Though playing football was no longer in his future, his inspirational story has been followed in Happy Valley and throughout the nation. Today, Adam is a student at Rutgers School of Law-Camden, where he is in his final year.
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