Athlete Speakers Brings Beloved Athlete to Share Wisdom on His Sobriety Journey with Upstate New York Recovery Center

Since 1942, Villa of Hope has been serving the Rochester area community, providing education, treatment, and services for youth, adults, and families struggling with mental health and substance abuse. Every year, they put on their “Portraits of Hope” event to raise funds for the vital work they undertake throughout the year. Their leadership tasked Athlete Speakers with securing a speaker who could share their struggles with substance abuse and who would resonate with the community. We brought in Jordan Poyer, a star safety and fan favorite among the Buffalo Bills faithful, who has led the team to six playoff appearances since 2017. He is currently in his second stint with the organization.

The celebration will take place on Friday, April 10th, at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center. The format will be more candid with a plated dinner, Poyer speaking in a conversational format moderated by a host, and the opportunity for a meet-and-greet and photos for those who donate at a certain level. The conversation will be centered around recovering from addiction and other behavioral health challenges.

Related Speaker List: Football Speakers

“We’re thrilled that Jordan Poyer will keynote our annual Portraits of Hope celebration,” said Villa of Hope President and CEO Carrie Carl. “Jordan will speak from personal experience about recovery from alcoholism, the importance of asking for help, and the power of hope.”

Since achieving sobriety in 2020, Poyer has spoken openly about his path to recovery, which he says has transformed his life. “People see athletes as these idols that can’t be touched, or don’t have any issues… their life is perfect,” said Poyer in a 2021 documentary produced by The Players’ Tribune. “But we’ve got issues. And I want people to understand that it’s okay to ask for help about your issues. If I never asked for help, I’d still be drinking.”

For more information on how to experience this keynote, go here.

Unlock your event’s potential by bringing in Jordan Poyer as your keynote speaker! Don’t miss the opportunity to inspire your audience—Contact Athlete Speakers today for more information, or fill out our Online Booking Request Form. Let us leverage our 25 years of industry-leading experience to secure the perfect sports talent for your next event!