EAST GRAND FORKS, MN. — Former Minnesota Vikings center Matt Birk surprised students at Sacred Heart who do not usually spend their first day of school visiting with a former NFL player. However, Sacred Heart students in East Grand Forks got a treat Tuesday Sept. 6th as they listened to guest speaker, Matt Birk, give a motivational talk to kick off the school year. The school arranged the visit by Birk, who also played with the Ravens and is the current director of football development for the NFL, as part of its DAY-ONE program. Source: Grand Forks Herald.
Birk is a graduate of Cretin-Derham Hall, a Twin Cities-based Catholic high school and a motivational speaker. “The message this year is to take advantage of what Sacred Heart has to offer,” he said. “(Birk) has some ideas—some life experiences and stories—that make him a perfect fit.”
Matt Birk is a former NFL center. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft, and later played for the Baltimore Ravens. established the HIKE Foundation in 2002, which seeks to “impact the lives of at-risk children by providing interactive programs and resources needed to guide a child through the key educational transitions between elementary, middle, high school and college.”The foundation launched “Ready, Set, Read!” in select Baltimore area public schools in the fall of 2010. The program works with about 100,000 Baltimore students on improving their reading skills through an incentive-based system.
Birk received the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2011 for his commitment to improving literacy among at-risk youth. Birk is a pro-life activist. His wife volunteers at a crisis pregnancy center and he participated in the Maryland March for Life in 2011. He is also a practicing Catholic and father of six.
Christian Speakers 360 is a booking agent for Christian athletes and celebrities. If you would like to book Matt Birk for an appearance, contact Matt Birk’s booking agent for speaker fees at 1.800.966.1380.
Speak Your Mind