Schedule an Assembly for your school contact Mary Kay Amicone or Derek Waddops for scheduling information
Throughout time and in every culture, HEROES with character have been revered in tales, written about in literature, viewed on the big screen, and looked to as role-models. Never in the history of the world, has there been a more profound need for heroes – men and women educated in integrity and empowered to tackle society’s most pressing issues - in every community, home, school, and boardroom. Introducing KNOW GREATER HEROES.
Know Greater Heroes addresses this problem. It provides and cultivates the grounds in which heroes can grow. THE MISSION is to empower communities with an engaging program that awakens the hero within each of us, thereby assisting all to succeed brilliantly through life's challenges.
NBA ALL-STAR
SHOCKS THE WORLD
“I’m NOT a role-model”
A few years ago, on national television, a basketball superstar made the evening news with his antics on the court. After losing a tough game, the athlete finally got fed up with the crowd which, during the entire game, taunted him and booed him and hurled all kinds of insults at him. As the buzzer sounded to end the game, he raised his right hand high in the air and showed them his obscene finger. The media jumped all over him for that gesture. A reporter cornered him in the locker room, asked him why in the world a superstar like him would do such a thing in front of all those impressionable young kids. He responded by saying: "I'm not a role model. I never said I was a role model. I'm a basketball player. I'm here to play basketball, not to be an example for little kids. Let the kids look somewhere else if they want a role model. That's all I've got to say about that.”
When Charles Barkley first made this declaration he touched off a storm of controversy across the country. Talk show hosts, educators, parents and children everywhere began debating the role of professional athletes in society and the influence they have on America’s youth. While Charles was implying that a child’s father and/or mother should serve as the real role model, the truth remains – “EVERYONE IS A ROLE-MODEL - whether for good or bad. There is always someone watching (especially children), looking for an excuse to be just like you.”
SO, If Not Him...
THEN WHO?
Know Greater Heroes is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit, Charitable Organization developed to serve, build and empower people in communities throughout the world. The ultimate vision of the organization is to positively affect the lives of all elementary school children, their families, and the college and high school students who serve them.
Know Greater Heroes provides universities, colleges and high schools with a systematic, “Best Practices” approach to character development, leadership training, and service-learning. The Program trains and empowers college and high school students who have the desire to serve - with the skills necessary to be role-models, examples – even HEROES within their own community.
With this wisdom, these trained students are given the opportunity to give back in elementary schools. Through action-packed, fun-filled, high-energy assemblies, children are given the opportunity to hear, feel, and see leaders with character in their own community. Each elementary school child will be INSPIRED with the love, courage and determination necessary to be their own greatest hero.
The Story Behind
THE KNOW GREATER HEROES PROGRAM
Chris Brown, the creater of Know Greater Heroes, has spent over 30 years in the human performance industry either as a competitor, teacher, coach or administrator.
A graduate of Brigham Young University in 1987, Chris spent most of his time wrestling for the university and earning a Bachelors Degree in Health Education. During his career as a student-athlete, Chris competed in the 1984 Olympic Trials, represented the West in the EAST/WEST All-Star Match, and qualified twice for the NCAA Championships - ranked each year in the top ten. His failure to achieve the goal to be an All-American has been one of his greatest motivators.
Upon graduation, he married his beautiful wife, Annette and took the Wrestling Head Coaching job at Payson High in Payson, Utah. During his 15 year tenure, he assisted in Football, coached the Utah National Wrestling Team and lead the Payson High Wrestling team to 2 Runner-up finishes in the State Wrestling Tournament.
With the belief that he could make greater change as a principal, he returned to school to get his Masters Degree in Education at Grand Canyon University and Administration Certificate from Southern Utah University. In 2001, he was hired as the Assistant Athletic Director at Utah Valley State College. Over a 6 year period he served as the Development Officer and the Director of Marketing & Promotions for the Wolverines. He resigned in 2007 to begin running the Know Greater Heroes Foundation.
His family now includes five children, and the following is his story of the birth of Know Greater Heroes.
"I'm taking the class for me"
As a high school health educator and coach, I found very little that was inspirational in the fields of character, leadership and service in the public education system. After listening to a nationally televised interview of a professional basketball player - in which player said, "I am not a role-model, I didn't sign up to be one. I am just a basketball player," I knew a difference could be made.
I began looking for any kind of training that was working in the real world - the best books, journals, research and seminars. What I found was amazing. The principles and strategies being taught were the ones used by the truly outstanding in business, arts, and athletics. I chose the most spoken about to develop and scientifically support a curriculum and way of teaching.
At the end of the first semester, a particular student asked if she could take my class again. Not knowing the reason, I responded by telling her she didn’t need to – she already had gotten the credit she needed. Her response changed my life and the ultimate direction of my professional career. “Coach Brown, taking this class again has nothing to do credit. I’m taking the class for me. It has helped me change my life and become a better person.”
This inspired the implementation of a service-learning & mentoring element. Students who had already taken the class, that had a desire to return, and were great examples were given leadership roles as student aids and mentors. They became accountable for class operation and the support of every incoming student so they felt like an intricate part of the class.
“Everyone is a role-model – whether for good or bad. There is always someone watching, and looking for an excuse to be just like you."
With every lesson and activity a new focus emerged. The student- mentors wanted to reach beyond the classroom and into the community. Each felt if they could have learned what they knew now at an earlier age there lives would have been happier, more exciting, and filled with love. With this in mind, I developed an assembly designed to inspire and motivate an elementary school audience.
The first assembly was an exhilarating learning experience for the high schools-mentors, and a blast for the elementary children, teachers and administrators. I was apparent to all that this was what education and learning was supposed to feel like.
The health class with its new curriculum made it possible to personalize an all encompassing health plan for each student. It included the elements of mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, and social well being. All of which, was built upon a foundation of character and leadership. With the addition of the service and mentoring aspect of the program, a commitment to be a force for good was instilled. Each student mentor grasped the concept that everyone is a role-model – whether for good or bad. There is always someone always watching, looking for an excuse to be just like you.
My desire was to touch the lives of more than my health classes. I was inspired to get my masters degree – thinking it would open the doors to motivate greater change with many more people. What I found was my true passion – teaching and empowering young adults with the desire learn and grow. While finishing the administrative internship, I was hired by Utah Valley State College Athletic Department and immediately implemented Know Greater Heroes on a collegiate level.
Charles Barkley’s interview in 1993 brought to light my biggest fear - are we providing and cultivating the grounds in which heroes can grow? We desperately need heroes in government and in business, in city councils and PTAs, in media and in professions, in sports and in the arts. We need young, ordinary males and females, from every ethnic and economic background—who with wisdom, courage and compassion can inspire others. For this purpose, the Know Greater Heroes Foundation has chosen college and high students who are enrolled in universities, colleges and high schools who have embrace the science of service-learning and the art of leadership training plus character development. It is within this culture, heroes can grow. With a rigorous, scientifically based curriculum and enthusiastic instructors; attitudes change. And, with simple guiding influence, millions of children worldwide will garner local role-models to follow.
In 2001, the first semester pilot program began in the athletic department under the direction of the business department and the famous CAL Leadership Center. With 18 student-athletes, who visited 8 elementary schools, the demand for the program exploded.
Now, in its seventh year, Know Greater Heroes is a not-for-profit, charitable organization that trains universities, colleges, and high schools how to implement and run the program. In 2008-09 there will be five universities/colleges who will teach approximately 150 student-athletes, visit 100 elementary schools, and touch the lives of over 100,000 elementary school children with a message designed to assist humanity in reducing suicides, gang problems, depression, drug abuse, and obesity - emotional and behavioral problems that plague every community around the world.
“Imagine for a moment, just 100 universities, colleges, and high schools - coming together for a common cause… KNOW GREATER HEROES...
THE OUTCOME
1.8 MILLION CHILDREN WHO BELIEVE THEY ARE HEROES
|