Beating The Odds Foundation

February 22, 2013
Beating the Odds Foundation presented a Quarterbacks of Life^® assembly for approximately seven hundred and eighty (780) 6^{th –} 8^th grade students of Park Forest Middle School. Rulon Gardner, 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist, who serves as a Quarterback of Life^® for Beating the Odds Foundation; and Rocco Scalzi, Founder and President of Beating the Odds Foundation spoke to the students about leadership, the importance of believing in themselves, and never giving up.

This program was made possible through Walmart and Susquehanna Bank. “As a community focused bank, Susquehanna Bank is proud to partner with the Beating the Odds Foundation to deliver programs to the State College Area School District that will help better equip our youth of today to overcome the challenges they may be facing tomorrow,” Susquehanna Bank Regional President, Jack Infield.

Click here to view the article that appeared in the Centre Daily Times.

These middle school students have been participating in the Quarterbacks of Life^® Student Success and Leadership Program for the past two school years under the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Brian Toth, Principal Don Wagner, teachers Mrs. Susan Nycum and Mr. Rick Schreier, and guidance counselor, Mr. James Rumbarger. The program was made possible through the Central Pennsylvania Community Foundation, Walmart, Charles Caracciolo Steel & Metal Yard, U.S. Foods, DelGrosso Foods, and Bellwood-Antis School District Foundation.

For news coverage of the event by WTAJ-TV, click the following link: http://wearecentralpa.com/fulltext?nxd_id=439262

Click here to view photos of the event. 

1.  Please keep doing this program!
2.  I always had goals but now I think about them more.
3.  The Stepping Stones have helped me to be more confident when playing the piano.
4.  I am able to encourage myself more to get through difficult situations.
5.  This program helped me to get in touch with my goals and work harder towards them.
6.  Great Program!!!
7.  Keep finding more Quarterbacks!!!
8.  Better understanding of how to reach a goal!
9.  It would be great to find “ Quarterbacks” at our school. I feel that this program has helped me at    the pageant that I am now attending.
10.  It was great meeting a famous person- Kim Cooper!!!

Special thanks to Varischetti & Sons, Inc. for making this program possible to the students of Brockway Area Elementary School.

December 15, 2011
Beating the Odds Foundation presented a Quarterbacks of Life^® assembly  for approximately 420 5^th - 8^th grade students of Bellwood-Antis School District.

Kim Cooper, Southwest Airlines Pilot, who serves as a Quarterback of Life^® for Beating the Odds Foundation addressed the students of her own success story and the importance of having a dream, setting goals, overcoming obstacles and most importantly, never giving up.

The assembly was featured in the Altoona Mirror on December 16, 2011.

November 21, 2011
Quarterback of Life® and Vietnam War Hero, Bob “Mr. Inspiration” Wieland, took it to the road again, coast-to-coast across America! Why, "Because it's too soon to quit," says Bob.

Bob Wieland is best known for his walk across America on his arms.  In 1986, Bob completed a 3000 mile walk across America on his arms to pay tribute to his fallen comrade. That journey took Bob 3 years, 8 months and 6 days. Bob lost both legs in 1969 while trying to save a fallen comrade in Vietnam.  On November 21, 2011, Bob celebrated 25 years since his walk across America arriving at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. 

On July 4, 2011, Bob left Los Angeles on his arm-pedaled bicycle and arrived at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall on November 21, 2011, to pay tribute to his fallen comrade and to all 58,272 veterans who lost their lives in Vietnam. Bob then continued his arm-pedaled bicycle journey back to Los Angeles, CA to his final destination.

Bob's journey was featured in The New York Times on November 5, 2011. 
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/sports/bob-wielands-athletic-accomplishments-continue-to-inspire.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ref=newyorkcitymarathon

March 30-31, 2011
Rocco Scalzi and Quinton Aaron (actor and QBOL) attended the premiere and press day for Soul Surfer in Hollywood.

E! Entertainment interviewed Bethany and Quinton about their involvment with the Quarterbacks of Life Student Mentoring Program, which aired on E! News on April 6th. Click the link to view E! Entertainment's coverage of the red carpet. http://www.eonline.com/videos/v98760_.html

Soul Surfer is is the inspiring true story of professional surfer Bethany Hamilton (BTO's Co-Chair and QBOL), who lost her arm in a shark attack and courageously overcame all odds to become a champion again, through the love of her family, her sheer determination and unwavering faith.   The film features an all-star cast, including AnnaSophia Robb and Helen Hunt, with Carrie Underwood in her film debut, and Dennis Quaid.  

Soul Surfer hits theaters April 8, 2011.

(Bethany and Quinton at press day)

January 2011                                                                                                                                    Beating the Odds Foundation recently formed a partnership with the National Education Association (NEA). NEA's vision is a great public school for every student. And their mission is to advocate for education professionals and to unite their members and the nation to fulfill the promise of public education to prepare every student to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world. NEA also believes every student in America, regardless of family income or place of residence, deserves a quality education. In pursuing its mission, NEA has determined that they will focus the energy and resources of their 3.2 million members on improving the quality of teaching, increasing student achievement and making schools safer, better places to learn.

NEA featured an article on QBOL™ Quinton Aaron (The Blind Side) in their online newsletter, NEA Today Express, January edition.  Please click this link to read the article. http://www.nea.org/home/41951.htm 

July 30, 2010                                                                                                                                 Rocco Scalzi and QBOL and actor, Quinton Aaron were invited to the U.S. Department of Education’s “Let’s Read. Let’s Move.” summer enrichment series hosted by Secretary Arne Duncan. U.S. Congressman Jim Langevin; Kareem Dale, special assistant to the President of the U.S. on disability policy; and Quinton Aaron joined Secretary Duncan. Congressman Langevin read a book called House Mouse Senate Mouse by Peter W. Barnes and engaged children in a lively discussion about how laws are made in Congress. Kareem Dale read the Braille version of If I Ran for President by Catherine Stier and shared what it is like to work with President Barack Obama. 

Quinton Aaron spoke to children from across Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia about his participation as a Beating the Odds Foundation Quarterback of Life and shared his own "beating the odds" story.

To read a blog entry chronicling this event posted on the U.S. Department of Education site click here.

May 10, 2010                                                                                                                               Beating the Odds Foundation celebrated its twentieth anniversary with a Beating the Odds Rally.  Approximately, 5,000 fourth through seventh grade students and their teachers of Blair and Cambria Counties were in attendance.       

The rally featured several of the Beating the Odds Foundation’s “Quarterbacks of Life,” including two of the U.S. Army’s Golden Knights who parachuted at the rally; Quinton Aaron, co-star in the highly acclaimed movie, ‘The Blind Side’; Bob Wieland, Viet Nam War hero; Kim Cooper, pilot for Southwest Airlines; Adam Taliaferro, former Penn State football player who overcame a career ending injury; Bo Eason, actor and former NFL player; Katherine Speltz,16 year old aspiring performing arts student from Connecticut; and PJ Maierhofer, Penn State’s feature twirler.           

At the Vietnam Memorial, Washington DC, students heard Bob "Mr. Inspiration" Wieland speak of his 20 year anniversary of his Walk Across America. Students from the Washington DC School District joined Mr. Wieland and the Beating the Odds Foundation to celebrate and honor this accomplishment of his amazing walk on his arms across America. Serving as a medic during the Vietnam War, Bob lost both of his legs when he stepped on and detonated a mortar round, booby-trappedin the ground. Bob has become truly inspirational to America's youth by encouraging them to never give up on their dreams. Of his many accomplishments, since returning 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. Bob serves as Chairman of Beating the Odds Foundation's Celebrity Advisory Board.

Penn State Alumni Adam Taliaferro, and Vietnam War Hero Bob Wieland participated in a special tribute to freedom at Beaver Stadium, during the Penn State vs. Cincinnati football game, September 10, 2005, on the four-year eve of 911.

Beating the Odds Foundation was honored to present, on this special occasion to Penn State, the original painting by renowned artist Johno Prascak capturing the special day of Adam’s memorable walk onto Beaver Stadium. Prascak, who was commissioned by the Pittsburgh Steelers to do a painting of Heinz Field, is the artist to have five limited edition prints in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The original painting is permanently on display in the Penn State All-Sports Museum. A limited edition print is available for purchase to benefit the Beating the Odds Foundation’s work of helping America’s youth become winners in life.

Order your limited edition print today!