New England Patriots Kevin Faulk and Matthew Slater Call on Teens to End Widespread Relationship Violence
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Kevin Faulk and Matthew Slater of the New England Patriots visited East Boston High School on Friday (Dec. 9) to lead Training Camps for Life – a program that educates students about teen relationship violence. They were joined by retired Patriot and East Boston High School alumnus Jermaine Wiggins and retired Washington Redskin Pete Kendall, a football standout at Boston College.
Faulk and Slater led 400 East Boston High School students in taking the LIVERESPECT pledge, a commitment to end teen relationship violence and speak out against domestic violence. Across the country, more than 3,000 teens have taken the pledge to date.
“I was proud to join my fellow teammates in taking the LIVERESPECT pledge,” said Slater. “It is a meaningful way to demonstrate respect for yourself, your girlfriend or boyfriend, and it’s also a great way for parents to start a conversation about healthy relationships with their kids.”
Ted Bunch, co-founder of A CALL TO MEN, said, “NFL players from New York to Green Bay to New Orleans and here in Boston have rallied around this cause, helping teens understand why it’s important to commit themselves to healthy, respectful relationships. Their positive influence lays an important foundation for us to dive deeper into the cultural influences that shape teen relationships.”
Through the Training Camps for Life program, the Verizon Foundation funds A CALL TO MEN program to provide participating schools with a healthy relationships curriculum designed specifically for teens.
“The Verizon Foundation commends schools like East Boston High School for their leadership addressing this critical social issue,” said Donna Cupelo, region president of Verizon New England. “Through the healthy relationships curriculum, teens will learn nuances of abuse and know how to respond if confronted by violence or abuse.”
Training Camps for Life is a partnership of the National Football League Players Association, A CALL TO MEN and the Verizon Foundation.
