Past Events

May 1, 2008
Several thousand students who are a part of the Quarterbacks of Life Mentoring Program were treated by the Beating the Odds Foundation to a day at the Blair County Ballpark, Altoona, PA with the Altoona Curve and Rocco Scalzi, Roberto Clemente Jr., Kim Cooper, and Jen Moody of the Pittsburgh Passion.

February 2, 2008
Beating the Odds Foundation was a charity of choice at the Leigh Steinberg Super Bowl Party in Phoenix, AZ.

October 4, 2007
The second annual Beating the Odds Quarterback Club dinner was held on Thursday, October 4, 2007 at the Blair County Convention Center in Altoona, PA. This event was chaired by Rocky Bleier (four-time Super Bowl Champion), Leigh Steinberg (the country's #1 sports agent), and Former Senate President Pro Tempore (PA) Robert C. Jubelirer. Check out pictures from this event!

October 4, 2007
A school assembly program was held at Pleasant Valley Elementary School, Altoona, Pennsylvania with members of the Quarterbacks of Life Team. View pictures from this event.

October 3, 2007
Students from Brownsville Area School Distrcit attended a special presentation at Heinz Field. The students had the opportunity to meet Rocco Scalzi, Leigh Steinberg, Bob Wieland, Rocky Bleier, Kim Cooper, and Pittsburgh Passion players.

October 17, 2006
The first annual Beating The Odds "Quarterback Club" dinner was celebrated at Heinz Field with an evening of motivational stories, educational student recognition, dinner and entertainment. Proceeds raised help support the Beating the Odds Foundation's Quarterbacks of Life Mentoring Program. Check out the pictures from this event!

To become a member and support this great cause of "Helping Tomorrow's Leader's Make the Right Choices Today," please contact us.

Special Offer from the Beating the Odds Foundation: "Never Give Up"(a guide to Beating the Odds), is a highly motivational tool, set on DVD, created to help Elementary, Middle School and High School students, as well as Teachers, Parents, Organizations and Corporate America! Proceeds from the sales go directly to the BTO Foundation to support its constant efforts in working with the youth of America! Purchase your DVD today!

May 12, 2006
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.

September 10, 2005
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!

May 10, 2005
The Beating the Odds Foundation held a Beating The Odds Rally at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA, on May 10, 2005. United States Senator Rick Santorum and Art Rooney II, President of The Pittsburgh Steelers, were Honorary Co-Chairmen. Beating The Odds, in partnership with Pennsylvania schools, brought 8,000 middle school students to Heinz Field to hear stories of dreams, obstacles, and never giving up. Hosted by Pittsburgh Steelers great, Rocky Bleier, and shark attack survivor and competitive surfer, Bethany Hamilton, unbelievable people representing the true meaning of “beating the odds” told their stories of tragedy and triumph, of hope and inspiration. Additional motivational speakers for the event were: Bob Wieland, a true American hero who lost both of his legs in Vietnam, Adam Taliaferro, a young promising football player at PSU who endured a career ending injury, Erik Weihenmayer, a blind mountain climber who has reached all of the highest peaks of the seven summits, and Curt Brinkman, an eight-time Paralympics medal winner and the first wheelchair racer to win the Boston Marathon.

May - June 2003
A Beating the Odds / Symbol of Freedom journey across Pennsylvania with Vietnam War Hero Bob Wieland. BTO teamed up with Mr. Wieland to visit school districts and encourage our youth to become winners in life. Students from these schools attended a motivational assembly and joined Bob as he walked on his hands a distance from their school.

September 2002
Beating the Odds gathered 5,000 students at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA to celebrate Freedom and to remember all those who lost their lives on 911. This celebration included a military fly-over for the students.

June 2001
The Beating the Odds message was recognized as part of a tribute presented in San Antonio, Texas to Arnold Spielberg, father of film producer Steven Spielberg. Mr. Spielberg was honored for his service to his country in WWII and for inspiring the making of "Saving Private Ryan."

September 1995

Beating the Odds / A Celebration of Freedom was the message for thousands of school children as former President George Bush, Bob Hope, James Earl Jones and 100 recipients of our nation's highest military honor, the Congressional Medal of Honor, gathered in Philadelphia to remember the past, and to bring hope and inspiration to the future.

September - October 1995
The Beating the Odds message was shared with hundreds of thousands of people each Sunday in NFL cities across America as Vietnam War Hero Bob Wieland pedaled his arm pedaled bicycle from Philadelphia, PA to Los Angeles, CA and down to Jacksonville, Florida, covering 6200 miles.

June 1991
Rocco Scalzi and Rocky Bleier shared their stories with the Junior Olympic athletes in Orlando, Florida. Mr. Scalzi and Mr. Bleier encouraged the athletes to beat the odds not only in sports, but in life.

October 1990
The Beating the Odds message was shared with 15,000 students from the Pittsburgh, PA school districts. Dreams, Goals, Obstacles and to never Give Up were the topics shared by individuals who lived through such experiences and now help to inspire America's youth to never give up on their dreams.