Inspiration & Faith
Inspiring storytellers whose faith has helped them conquer and achieve
Making it Happen The Tuohy family’s life, as chronicled in Michael Lewis’ New York Times number one bestseller and blockbuster movie The Blind Side, tells the story of the adopted son of Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, Michael Oher, who spent most of his childhood in various foster homes and moved in with the Tuohys when he was 16. “Who knows where I’d be?” says Michael, who with the love and support of the Tuohys, improved as a student and became the most sought after player in college and a first-round NFL draft pick as soon as he stepped on the field. He is now an offensive tackle and first-round draft pick for the Baltimore Ravens.
“I think Michael had a much greater impact on our lives than we did on his. You take so much in life for granted, but when Michael moved in with us, he made us realize how blessed we are.” — Leigh Anne Tuohy The Tuohy Family
Inspirational subjects of the movie The Blind Side
Today the Tuohys continue to make an impact. In July 2010, they released The New York Times bestseller, In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving, and established their charity, The Making it Happen Foundation which promotes awareness, provides hope and improves standards of living for all the children fighting to survive in the invisible cracks in society. In 2012 Leigh Anne published a new book called Making it Happen: Just Turn Around. In it she details concrete action steps people can take to becoming more involved and giving—in both their community and in their one on one interactions with others. Through all their projects, the Tuohy family continues their mission to inspire hope, ignite generosity, and make it happen for the deserving, but underserved youth. They are actively involved in many civic and faith-based organizations, including Grace Evangelical Church, of which they are founding members. At the podium, they invite audiences to go behind-the-scenes of the Tuohy household with a heartwarming message: “In our house, we believe in miracles.” www.greatertalent.com/TheTuohyFamily
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Newsworthy Acheivements Judge Napolitano joined Fox News Channel (FNC) in January 1998 and currently serves as the senior judicial analyst. He provides legal analysis on both FNC and Fox Business Network (FBN) throughout the day, Monday through Friday and is nationally known for watching and reporting on the government as it takes liberty and property.
Judge Andrew P. Napolitano
At the podium, Judge Napolitano tenaciously defends the natural law freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. Famous for his candid remarks, signature wit, and personal anecdotes, Judge Napolitano is the American media’s most outspoken analyst of the legal system, most fervent critic of government intervention into personal lives and commercial transactions, and most passionate defender of the Constitution.
With great conviction and brutal honesty, Judge Napolitano reminds audiences the purpose of government is to protect our FOX News Senior Judicial Analyst freedoms; you cannot make a poor person rich by making a rich person poor; and the engine of our prosperity has been rugged individualism, not government intervention. www.greatertalent.com/JudgeNapolitano
Known for his thought-provoking coverage and his commitment to exceptional storytelling, Byron Pitts is a multiple Emmy award winning journalist. A news veteran with over 20 years of experience, he’s been embedded in Iraq, covered the war in Afghanistan, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the military buildup in Kuwait and the refugee crisis in Kosovo, to name but a few. Pitts’ many achievements are all the more extraordinary when he tells of the many obstacles he faced as a child. Raised by a single mother in a working class neighborhood, Pitts was illiterate until the age of 12 and had a persistent stutter. By staying focused, setting simple and achievable goals and finding strength in faith, Pitts learned to read and went on to attend Ohio Wesleyan University. With the help of his roommate and a college professor, Pitts found the Byron Pitts support and encouragement necessary to pursue a career in broadcast journalism–a field that demands excellence in CBS News Chief National Correspondent & 60 Minutes writing and speaking. www.greatertalent.com/ByronPitts
Correspondent
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Paying it Forward Literary sensation Nicholas Sparks is the author of 17 New York Times #1 bestselling books and is a cultural phenomenon. Sparks relatable talks weave his own personal story of hard work, rejection, anxiety, and triumph for inspiring people everywhere. A true humanitarian, Sparks is a major contributor to his alma mater, the University of Notre Dame, where he provides scholarships, internships, and an annual fellowship. In 2006, Sparks and his wife opened The Epiphany School in New Bern - an independent, college preparatory school, rooted in the Christian faith. Epiphany provides a vast array of educational opportunities including art, music and travel as an essential part of the school’s curriculum. By the time every student has graduated, he or she will have visited 26 countries on six continents to study everything Nicholas Sparks in context from history, rather than from just textbooks. Sparks’ fictional love stories often tug at the heartstrings of many. However his personal, true stories of charitable giving will undoubtedly tug at your own.
Bestselling Author and Philanthropist
www.greatertalent.com/NicholasSparks Dolvett Quince is a force of nature. As a veteran health and fitness expert and one of the trainers on The Biggest Loser, Quince has dedicated himself to “helping people change their lives, one rep at a time.” At the podium, Quince shares his powerful story that began as a child along with his three siblings in the foster care system, and led him to become one of America’s most beloved fitness experts. He opens up about his thoughts on the foster care system, how it helped shape his life, and imparts the power of positive thinking to improve overall wellness.
Dolvett Quince
Fitness Guru and Trainer from The Biggest Loser
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Since his humble beginnings, Quince has never forgotten where he came from and it’s what keeps him motivated, paying it forward to his clients both mentally and physically. His heartwarming and triumphant story will have audiences cheering on their feet and ready to start changing their lives.
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Faith in Justice There are times in life when it is easier, or even more sensible, to just give up. This isn’t a belief held by 2011 Arthur Ashe Courage Award winner Dewey Bozella. In 1983, amateur boxer Dewey Bozella’s life took a dramatic turn when he was convicted of a murder he did not commit. Sentenced to 20 years to life in Sing Sing prison, Bozella maintained his innocence and exhausted every appeal. He was offered more than four separate chances for an early release if he would only admit guilt and show remorse, but Bozella consistently refused to accept freedom under such conditions. Anger at his imprisonment gave way to determination and instead of becoming embittered, he became a model prisoner, earning his GED, bachelors and masters degrees in Theology, working as a counselor for other prisoners, and falling in love and getting married. Unyielding in his innocence, Bozella never gave up fighting in or out of the ring. He wrote to the Innocence Project weekly in his quest for a ray of hope. Powerful New York law firm, WilmerHale, eventually took on Bozella’s case and uncovered new evidence that exonerated him. After being in prison for more than 26 years, he was finally released in October 2009.
Dewey Bozella
Arthur Ashe Courage Award Winner & Boxer
Then in October 2011, at the age of 52, Bozella’s dream of fighting in a professional boxing match was finally realized when he fought and beat 30 year old opponent Larry Hopkins. Today, a professional boxing champ, Bozella is running The Dewey Bozella Foundation, a non-profit program that teaches children discipline, and the value of hard work and perseverance through boxing.
www.greatertalent.com/DeweyBozella
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My Faith Helped Save My Life
Marcus Luttrell’s 2007 #1 New York Times bestselling book, Lone Survivor, tells the harrowing story of four Navy SEALs who journeyed into the mountainous border of Afghanistan and Pakistan on Operation Redwing. An unparalleled motivational story of survival, the book is also a moving tribute to the friends and teammates who did not make it off the mountain. A powerful testament to the courage, integrity, patriotism and community that forged these American heroes, Lone Survivor is an incredible account of teamwork, fortitude and modern warfare. In this emotionally raw account, Luttrell honors the memories of all those who died, sharing with us the incredible bravery, courage and honor of these extraordinary warriors. He holds their lives up as examples of this guiding philosophy of the SEALs:
Marcus Luttrell
Decorated Navy SEAL & Bestselling Author of Lone Survivor and Service
“I will never quit. I persevere and thrive on adversity. My Nation expects me to be physically harder and mentally stronger than my enemies. If knocked down, I will get back up, every time. I will draw on every remaining ounce of strength to protect my teammates and accomplish our mission. I am never out of the fight.” At the podium, Luttrell takes us from the rigors of SEAL training and what it takes to join the America’s elite fighting force, to the battle on the mountain, into his family’s experience of community support and generosity, and back to his own incredible story of survival and grace. In powerful narrative, he weaves a rich account of courage and sacrifice, honor and patriotism, community and destiny that audiences will find both wrenching and life-affirming. www.greatertalent.com/MarcusLuttrell
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GTN is also partnered with the Hachette Book Group and Simon & Schuster Publishers Please check out www.hachettespeakersbureau.com or www.simonspeakers.com for more great authors. Featured speakers include: Regina Brett is the voice readers and audiences turn to when they want inspiration for life. She is a New York Times best selling author whose popular book God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life’s Little Detours has been published in 18 countries. Her presentations at hospitals, seminars, colleges, churches, commencements, conferences, fundraisers and annual meetings inspire audiences to take the next right step, create the life of their dreams, make peace with the past, say yes to life and be the miracle they want to see in the world. Regina’s most popular column, 50 Life Lessons, is about faith and family, about the lessons cancer taught her and the ones she learned growing up in a family of 11 children and as a single parent for 18 years.
Regina Brett
www.hachettespeakersbureau.com/ReginaBrett
Author, Cancer Survivor, Award-Winning Journalist
Dr. Eben Alexander III has been an academic neurosurgeon for the last 25 years. After suffering from a rare case of bacterial meningitis, Alexander fell into a coma for seven days. He awoke with memories of a fantastic odyssey deep into another realm – more real than this earthly one. Alexander has since written a book, Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife, about this most powerful, lifechanging story; a scientist’s case for the afterlife.
Dr. Eban Alexander
Neurosurgeon Who Journeyed to the Afterlife
Before Alexander underwent his journey, he could not reconcile his knowledge of neuroscience with any belief in heaven, God, or the soul. Today he is a doctor who believes that true health can be achieved only when we realize that God and the soul are real and that death is not the end of personal existence but only a transition. This story would be remarkable no matter who it happened to. That it happened to Alexander makes it revolutionary. No scientist or person of faith will be able to ignore it. www.simonspeakers/EbanAlexander
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MOTIVATION, INSPIRATION, ADVENTURE: Chaz Bono • Dewey Bozella • Kris Carr • Ntiedo (NT) Etuk • Mia Farrow • Ronan Farrow • Rory Kennedy • Marcus Luttrell • Don Mann • Marlee Matlin •
T.K. Mattingly • Luma Mufleh • Petra Nemcova •
Michael Oher • Apolo Anton Ohno • Nell Irvin-Painter •
Dolvett Quince • Bill and Giuliana Rancic •
Capt. Winston Scott • Caroll Spinney • Esera Tuaolo • The Tuohy Family
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