“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

“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.

This is a hard game to play well, a hard game to play well at the highest levels. It’s even harder when there are distractions off the field; things that players, perhaps, don’t know how to handle off the field. So the MVP program is designed to give players some tools to handle situations that they may come into off the field, and ultimately to allow the focus to be on the field…It’s been a great program, and we’ve had great success with it…we can see our players actively engaging in concepts and using the concepts throughout the course of the year.

There are times that they can get into a conflict where perhaps they don’t have the tools necessary or the skills necessary to deal with that conflict. And that’s where the MVP program comes in, and I would highly recommend it to any organization…MLB or any professional sport arena.”
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.

The feedback we’ve had from the players with the MVP seminars has been fantastic. Being out on the field for four and five hours a day competing, practicing, working hard giving it their all on the field – and then go through a seminar – a 90 minute seminar and to have their full attention, and then to get positive feedback speaks very highly for the MVP seminar and their program.”
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.

We are charged with helping them grow up, and educating them, as they go out to represent the Boston Red Sox in many communities. It comes down to choices…how do we encourage them to make the proper choices? Because we won’t be there. We won’t be there when a situation arises. We only hope that we can equip them with the ability to make educated choices.”
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

“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.

Student-athletes are unique in the sense that they sometimes find themselves in situations where they are in pressure cookers off the field and we want to be able to provide them with some tools…a thoughtful mechanism, a coping mechanism to deal with issues that they find themselves in…other than responding physically which for an athlete is a natural response to some pressures.

The real issue is what can we do as institutions and conferences to help young men and women learn to cope with these issues they bring to their experience…how can we help them, what tools, what responsibilities do we have.”
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, Michigan State University

“Your presentation was a very informative and powerful message. Your team did a nice job articulating the information/message you are sharing with our student-athletes. The dialogue is much needed and we appreciate the work MVP is doing.”
Shawn Eichorst, Executive Associate Athletic Director, University of Wisconsin

“I want to acknowledge the great job your team did. I’ve heard nothing but praise for the training our student-athletes received. They really liked the “interactiveness” of the sessions and felt you all related well with them. Thanks for providing such an important training to our Illini student-athletes.”
Kathy Kaler, Academic Counselor / Life Skills Coordinator, University of Illinois

“Thank you for all your time and dedication in working with our athletes here at UW. Your team was great. We got very positive responses from the athletes and even more so the coaches and administrators.

It was great working with you, and I appreciate the evaluation and comments you sent as well. This information is really valuable moving forward.”
Kelli Richards, CHAMPS / Life Skills Coordinator, University of Wisconsin

“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, Former Head Football Coach, Mississippi State

“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

“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

“We are just finishing up the MVP grant. It has been a great experience. The students really connected with the program, and it has gotten better each semester. Thank you for all you have done to make this program successful. We all learned so much from you.”
Janet Epstein, Syracuse University Violence Prevention Project