TESTIMONIALS:
"The
MVP Program is the most effective program of its kind that I have seen.
MVP offers the best means of eliminating violence against women before
it starts. I expect the New England Patriots as well as the New England
Revolution to be leaders on this issue - to their peers and in the community.
I hope other NFL teams follow the example we have set."
Robert Kraft
Owner, New England Patriots
"MVP is a creative and effective way to get student-athletes and
athletic department staffs talking about some of the critical issues
of gender violence that all of us, inside and outside college athletics,
need to be addressing. This program takes the right approach. I highly
recommend it."
C.M. Newton
Former Athletic Director, University of Kentucky and
Former President, USA Basketball
“The
Southeastern Conference is pleased to have formed a partnership with
the MVP Program that continues our goal of preparing our student-athletes
for life. The MVP staff has worked well with SEC universities in bringing
a message of personal responsibility and leadership through a program
that presents positive challenges to the thinking of our student-athletes.”
Mike Slive
Commissioner, Southeastern Conference (SEC)
"MVP
staff have 'hit a homerun' when it comes to delivering the message that
violence against women is unacceptable. MVP presenters articulate their
message in a way that many student-athletes have not heard, whether
it be through reflexive thought or active participation, they have unequivocally
gotten our student-athletes’ attention. At Michigan State University,
we are confident that the MVP program has made a difference in the lives
of our student-athletes. The MVP program has empowered our student-athletes
to be vocal when they see violence against a teammate, while educating
them on the law."
Jim Pignataro
Associate Athletics Director / Director of Student-Athlete Support Services,
Michigan State University
“The
biggest thing I’m going to take away from this is that I have
the power to be a leader and change situations, and if I see a situation
that’s negative between a man and a woman that I have the power
to intervene…I have the power to change our society.”
Clifton Ryan
Former Football Player, Michigan State University
“We
had been searching for an effective way to educate our minor league
players about gender violence and the issues that surround it…We
also knew it would take a certain type of presentation to be effective
given the audience. MVP trainers clearly get it when it comes to communicating
with athletes and the MVP Program was exactly what we were hoping for.
I know our players and staff benefited from the training and we look
forward to a continued relationship.”
Ben Cherington
Vice President / Player Personnel, Boston Red Sox
“I
think it’s very valuable. I would highly recommend the MVP program
to any and all organizations. I think the leadership part of the presentation
was very helpful, not only to the staff but also to the players because
we want our players to be good people on and off the field. We want
them to represent the Boston Red Sox in the ballpark but also out in
the community. I think they’ve done a fantastic job with our players
and with our staff members…and I can’t say enough for the
presentations that I’ve been involved with.”
Rob Leary
Minor League Field Coordinator, Boston Red Sox
“The
way that MVP engages…the players on this topic and forces their
participation in a non-threatening way…as they teach this topic
as opposed to lecture on this topic I think is very important…It
creates an environment that players are more receptive to and will participate.”
Mike Hazen
Director of Player Development, Boston Red Sox
"I
thought it was great. I enjoyed it. I think the players learned something.
We all got something out of it. We learned something about the importance
of communication.”
Charlie Manuel
Manager, Philadelphia Phillies
“If
another player’s in a bar fight, or another player hits his girlfriend,
why would you think it’s not going to happen to your guys –
it can happen…I want our players to recognize bad situations before
they become bad situations, and get out of them.”
Sylvester Croom
Head Football Coach, Mississippi State
“The
program was very effective…because it was clear cut. I don’t
think student-athletes need to be hit with statistics…They need
to be hit with more real life situations, and that’s exactly what
the program did. They told us what battery is, sexual assault, sexual
harassment. They didn’t just read the definition, they gave us
scenarios…One thing the program was good at was giving us a plan…I
think student-athletes need to be pounded…with programs talking
about values and choices, and I can attest that it does make a difference…I
think the more we approach this issue with openness and a genuine concern
for the athletes, it will continue to dwindle.”
Jemalle Cornelius
Former Football Player, University of Florida
National
Consortium for Academics and Sports
& the Center for the Study of Sports in Society
Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) Program
National
University of Central Florida
4000 Central Florida Blvd.
Business Administration II, Suite 113
Orlando, FL 32816-1400
Phone: (407) 823-3337
Fax: (407) 823-3542
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