Milwaukee boys pledge to end relationship violence

The National Football League Players Association, A Call to Men and the Verizon Foundation have teamed up to offer Training Camps for Life a program that addresses topics like overcoming adversity, decisions and consequences, and healthy teen relationships.
Approximately 1,000 teenage boys from Alexander Hamilton High School in Milwaukee joined Green Bay Packers, Frank Zombo and Desmond Bishop; retired Packer Blaise Winter, former Wisconsin Badger and retired Cleaveland Brown Tarek Saleh and Richie Armstrong, a former NCAA standout to pledge a commitment to end teen relationship violence.
"A healthy relationship is built on respect – respect for your boyfriend or girlfriend – and respect for yourself," said Zombo, linebacker for the Green Bay Packers.  "If we can increase and promote healthy relationships, we will prevent relationship violence." 
According to recent studies, one in every three teens experience relationship abuse and nearly 50 percent of teens report having done something that compromised their values to appease their partner.
The athletes and the teenage boys took the LIVERESPECT pledge which can be viewed at www.liverespect.org.
“The NFL players do an amazing job talking to teens and getting them to understand why it’s important to commit themselves to healthy relationships, but we knew we had to do more,” said T.J. Fox, region president for Verizon Wireless. “As part of Training Camps for Life, the Verizon Foundation funds A CALL TO MEN to go back into participating schools with a healthy relationships curriculum designed specifically for these teens so that we produce real and lasting change." 
Partnering with the NFL Players Association on the Training Camps for Life program is part of the Verizon Foundation’s strategy to engage men and teens in helping end domestic violence
"There’s no denying that teens really look up to NFL players, which makes Training Camps for Life the perfect setting to promote the message of respect and nonviolence,” said George Atallah, assistant executive director of external affairs for the NFL Players Association. “The program reinforces important life skills such as how to overcome adversity, decisions and consequences, and having a plan for your life." 
Additional camps will be held this year in New Orleans (Nov. 15), Boston (Dec. 9), and San Francisco (at a date to be determined).  The program will run throughout 2012.