Former Boston Red Sox (& Pawtucket Red Sox) pitcher and founder of the Will To Live Foundation, John Trautwein, will visit Brentwood, NH on the 24th May, 2013 for a speaking engagement. John will share his personal inspirational story on the WTL Foundation’s teen focused “Life Teammates” program with the Seacoast New Hampshire community and it’s local youth sports organizations. Members of local youth groups, schools, park districts, coaches, teachers and of course, the kids of the Brentwood community have been invited to attend this inspirational presentation on turning tragedy to triumph.
John and his wife Susie, the co-founders of the Will To Live Foundation, a nonprofit public charity, introduced their “Life Teammates®” program shortly after the tragic suicide death of their oldest child and son Will Trautwein, back in October, 2010.
“We all have Teammates in our lives today. Someone we share or have shared a dream with, someone we go through successes and failures with. The Life Teammates Program teaches kids to recognize those Life Teammates now – and encourages them to turn to each other in times of need” Says John, who played pro-baseball for 7 years after graduating from Northwestern University where he played with Yankees Manager Joe Girardi. John spent 4 years in the Expos organization and 3 years with the Red Sox organization including being a member of the 1988 Boston Red Sox pitching staff.
The Life Teammates message has now been shared with over 30,000 teens and young adults across the nation and continues to grow. Several local New Hampshire teams are sharing the message today – The Dover Stars Bantam Major hockey team as well as the Exeter Junior Bambino Baseball League recently joined the program spreading it’s “good teams may win, but great teams love each other” message.
John’s New England – Will To Live Tour – will continue the very next day (Sat 5/25), when he’ll be in Exeter, NH for the first ever running of “Connors Climb” – a 5k Family Fun Run & Walk For Life – which is sponsored by the Will To Live Foundation and is expected to be a wonderful family event designed to raise awareness and hope to the greater Exeter community. All proceeds raised will go back into the Exeter community raising awareness, education and counseling for teen suicide and mental health programs. For more information – view the official “Connors Climb” post.
John, who now lives with his wife and 3 additional children in Atlanta, is excited to be attending this fundraiser for life: “The “Connor’s Climb 5k” will be our very first major foundation event outside of Atlanta, and we’re so excited to be a part of it. The issues and stigmas surrounding mental health issues, like depression, need to be talked about and brought out in the open, so we don’t lose more wonderful kids like my son Will and Connor Ball (of New Hampshire) to teen suicide.”
Former Red Sox Pitcher & WTL Co-Founder John Trautwein will Be the Red Sox Guest at “Autograph Alley” in Fenway Park before the Sox vs. Indians Game, Sunday May 26th (1:35pm Game time)
On Sunday the 26th in Boston, it is “New Hampshire Day” at Fenway park and John has been asked by the Red Sox to man their alumni “Autograph Alley” booth before the game (1:35pm game time). He’ll have with him “Life Teammates” wristbands to give to all autograph seekers as well as more information on the foundation and it’s programs – as he hopes to continue spreading the “Love Ya Man” message.
“The Red Sox are so pleased to have John back once again to Fenway Park on “New Hampshire Day”. We are very proud to be supporters of his Will To Live Foundation which does such great work for the kids of our communities!”
– Dan Rea, Boston Red Sox Alumni Relations & Special Assistant To The President/CEO
Please contact the Will To Live Foundation at friends@will-to-live.org to arrange for John to speak to your organization today.
Click Here To See What The Audience Has To Say About John’s Message
Will To Live Co-Founder and President John Trautwein (shown above) has made over 200 speeches to kids, teams, schools, youth groups, teachers, coaches and parents alike since the Foundation was formed in late 2010.
“Life Teammates, Positive Passion In A Negative World!”
