beat the odds foundation
London
FACING HARDSHIP, HAVING TROUBLES, OR NEED INSPIRATION? WE’VE ALL BEEN THERE. The
Beating the Odds Foundation was founded in 1990 by Rocco Scalzi, a former
Altoona Pennsylvania police officer who managed to re-focus his life after a
tragic incident in 1980 during his rookie year. After choosing to turn his life
around despite facing many obstacles, Rocco took his message of hope to kids all
across the country. He recognized how all children are at-risk to become victims
of poor choices and other self-destructive behaviors. And although certain
at-risk factors are easy to identify in some youth, it is impossible to predict
how everyone will react when faced with hardships. So Rocco’s message to the
youth of America focused on the importance of developing a never-give-up
attitude. To officially kick off his inspirational organization, Rocco brought
15,000 students to Three Rivers Stadium, then-home of the Pittsburgh Steelers,
to hear first-hand how other people had reached their dreams and goals despite
the obstacles they faced. The first two individuals who joined Rocco that day
were former Pittsburgh Steeler great and Vietnam War hero Rocky Bleier (who now
serves as Co-Chairman of the Beating the Odds Foundation) and Vietnam War hero
Bob Wieland. Both have remained important members of the Beating the Odds
Foundation and still inspire students and adults to never give up.