-
Darrick Rizzo!Writer and Keynote Speaker !!As the owner of Rizzo Productions, Darrick Rizzo helps many high school athletes prepare to make their college dreams come true. He understands the importance of networking and never
misses a chance to make connections. While on the job, Darrick once met the Chief of Security of the Baltimore Ravens and tucked his business card into his pocket. Years later, when he needed a foreword for his dramatic new book, The Open Adoption, that card would lead Darrick to connect with Michael Oher, NFL Super Bowl Champion with the Baltimore Ravens and featured in the film,The Blind Side. Apart from meeting the champion offensive tackle, and sharing his inspiring story, Darrick also proved the importance of the mantra he now shares with students all across the country: !
“First you must find COURAGE, then you must accept CHANGE, now you are ready to NETWORK, but always know OBSTACLES will come along
during your JOURNEY TO SUCCESS.” !Now one of the first birth fathers to speak out about adoption, Darrick blogs
at two national adoption agencies: www.iheartadoption.org and www.chsfs.org. Thousands of adoptive parents, birth parents and adoptees are reading these blogs and finding inspiration and answers to their questions. Darrick is excited to share his insights and experience with open adoption and to show the birth father's perspective in the adoption triad.
Darrick Rizzo Writes and Speaks on these
topics:!!Open Adoption!
Birth Father Rights!Communicating with
Adoptive Parents!Keeping in Touch with
Adopted Children
“He tells his story in a very compassionate way which has
proved to be very helpful, educational and emotional for
adoptive parents who are in the process of deciding if adoption is
an option for them.” Lois Eckels Williams, The Eckels
Adoption Agency
http://www.iheartadoption.orghttp://www.chsfs.org/http://www.iheartadoption.orghttp://www.chsfs.org/
-
As a successful businessman, father, mentor and community leader, Darrick pays it forward by speaking out and motivating others. With Rizzo Productions, he facilitates new connections between parents, high school athletes and college coaches making sure the athletes put their best foot forward with video portfolios.!Slam Magazine called Darrick Rizzo "The Kobe Bryant stopper" holding Kobe to his lowest high school basketball game, a total of 8 points. For the past ten years, Darrick has also worked with programs like My Brothers Keeper and the Big Brother as a drug and alcohol mentor for troubled youth.!
All these experiences have inspired Darrick to become a Motivational and Transformation Speaker and Blogger, empowering others to overcome obstacles and find success. Darrick understands the power of positive thinking and is grateful to be able to share this understanding with thousands of students through keynote speeches, as well as his life-lessons in adoption through national adoption agencies. Darrick knows no matter what’s going on, there’s nothing you can’t handle. Everything is possible. You can turn your pain into something positive. Join him in his outspoken and jubilant slogan:!
YOU GOT THIS! To book Darrick Rizzo for keynote speeches or workshops please call 570-322-3298.!www.theopenadoption.com!www.DarrickRizzo.com!theopenadoption.tumblr.com
In his dramatic new book, The Open Adoption, Darrick tells a
tale of hope, loss and faith when, at age eighteen, he gave up his son in an Open Adoption that turned out to be anything but open. With a foreword by
Michael Oher, NFL Super Bowl Champion with the Baltimore Ravens and featured in the
film,The Blind Side.
Mr. Rizzo’s narrative is riveting. His story is
poignant, heartbreaking, and ultimately deeply
inspiring. Ann Wrixon, Independent
Adoption Center
http://www.theopenadoption.comhttp://www.DarrickRizzo.comhttp://theopenadoption.tumblr.comhttp://www.theopenadoption.comhttp://www.DarrickRizzo.comhttp://theopenadoption.tumblr.com
-
Darrick Rizzo, Keynote Speaker References !Say No to Drugs Jill Crouse-Wolf, Campus Director River Rock Academy High School PA [email protected] (717) 244-7453 !Overcoming Life Obstacles Assistant Principal Brandon Carter William Penn High School York PA [email protected] 717-849-1218 !Multicultural/Diversity Student Leadership Querida Lugo, Associate Director of Multicultural Department West Chester University, PA qlugo@wcupa 570 974-9308 !Networking Professor Heather Mazik, Marketing Dept. Clarion University [email protected] 814-221-1254 !Adoption Ann Wrixon, MSW, MBA Executive Director, Independent Adoption Center (IAC) 800-571-2913 !“Darrick Rizzo was “great” as the guest speaker at the Black Student Union’s Black History Month Dinner. His energy was contagious. He shared his guiding principles of “What not to do during your journey to success” . The steps were practical and we were entertained with his examples from his own life experiences that helped him identify these important steps.” Jannis V. Floyd. Ed.D. Associate Professor Education and Special Education Department, Mansfield University [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]
-
Independent Adoption Center • (800) 877-6736 • www.adoptionhelp.orgAtlanta 2060 East Exchange Pl., Suite 140 Tucker, GA 30084 • Indianapolis 5136 E. Stop 11 Rd., Suite 30 Indianapolis, IN 46237 • Los Angeles 5777 W. Century Blvd., Suite 1450 Los Angeles, CA 90045
Raleigh 11030 Raven Ridge Rd., Suite 109 Raleigh, NC 27614 • San Francisco 2300 Clayton Road, Suite 1150 Concord, CA 94520 • Houston 5555 West Loop South, Suite 550 Houston, TX 77401New York 116 W. 23rd St., Suite 500 New York, NY 10011 • Stamford Connecticut Business Center, Six Landmark Square, 4th Floor, Stamford, CT 06901
Tampa 3030 N. Rocky Point Dr. W, Suite 150, Tampa, FL 33607
professional / licensed / nonprofit
!!!February 14th, 2014!!!Dear Sir or Madam,!!Darrick Rizzo recently spoke at our monthly Adoption Workshop for new prospective adoptive parents at Independent Adoption Center. His personal story is both educational and engaging. The participants at the workshop truly enjoyed his heartfelt presentation as it increased their understanding and empathy for the emotional journey birthfathers endure. It also serves as a reminder that open adoption is nothing to fear and that when decisions about maintaining contact are driven by fear, unnecessary hurt and confusion results for all parties involved. The hope is that prospective adoptive parents who listen to Darrick's story can move forward in their adoption journey with an understanding and appreciation of the importance of honesty, integrity, and compassion as the relationship between the adoptive and birth family develops.!!If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.!!Sincerely,!!Jennifer Bliss, LCSW, LPCC, PsyD!National Associate Counseling Director!Independent Adoption Center!116 West 23rd St #500!New York, NY 10011!646-558-6505!!
-
Darrick Rizzo Motivational Speaker- LA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEIG1w2JqZs
!Darrick Rizzo Motivational Speaker 2014:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKRkiQsUsBg
Watch Darrick Rizzo in Action!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEIG1w2JqZshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKRkiQsUsBghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEIG1w2JqZshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKRkiQsUsBg
-
The Eckels Adoption Agency
994 Vallamont Drive Williamsport, PA 17701 Fax/Phone 570-323-2520
7/26/2012
The Eckels Adoption Agency is an equal opportunity adoption agency and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or handicaps in its programs, activities or employment.
To Whom It May Concern: Darrick Rizzo is a man I worked with approximately sixteen years ago. Darrick and his girlfriend came to see me because Darrick’s girlfriend, who was a senior in high school, was pregnant. Darrick was a freshman in college. During the process of meeting with me, his girlfriend decided that adoption was the best option for their baby. Darrick himself desired to keep the baby, but he supported his girlfriend’s desire to make an adoption plan for their baby as she really wanted that and thought it would be best for all three of them. Darrick and his girlfriend met several couples and eventually chose a couple who they thought would be the most appropriate for their baby. Many promises were made to the birthparents by the adoptive parents. The birthparents believed that this was the best choice and thus after their baby was born, the baby was subsequently placed with this adoptive family who did not live in the area where Darrick and his girlfriend resided. Darrick has now been coming to my prospective adoptive parent groups to tell his story and the disappointment, sadness and anger that he has dealt with because the adoptive parents did not live up to their promises. He tells his story in a very compassionate way which has proved to be very helpful, educational and emotional for adoptive parents who are in the process of deciding if adoption is an option for them. He details his entire experience as a birthfather from prior to the birth of his son to the present. He is nonjudgmental and forgiving of the adoptive parents in the approach to his story. He has spoken to at least four prospective adoptive parent groups for this agency and his presentation is superb. He is very honest and forthright and he certainly makes prospective adoptive parents think. Many people who have heard his presentation have told me later that it was very helpful. One gentleman said, “I came into the group thinking of birth parents as somewhat selfish and not caring about their children and Darrick has certainly changed my mind.” Another person commented that they would now never make a promise to a birth parent that they didn’t think they could fulfill. Another person stated that in hearing Darrick’s story, it would help her explain to her adopted children how much the birth parents really cared for them and why they made the adoption plan that they did. Darrick is interested in presenting his story to other agencies or groups and I would highly recommend him and be glad to talk with anyone who may desire to have Darrick give his presentation.
Sincerely yours, Lois Eckels Williams, ACSW
-
!
!
!!December 22, 2013
A Birthfather’s Remarkable Journey through Open Adoption Every potential adoptive parent and adoption professional owes it to himself or herself to hear Darrick Rizzo’s remarkable story of responsibility, resilience, and love for the son he placed for adoption. Promised an open adoption, Mr. Rizzo kept every promised he made, sending letters, photos and gifts over 15 years, despite repeated broken promises by the adoptive family to send photos and allow visits. Mr. Rizzo’s story is for every adoptive parent who believes that birthfather’s are absent, uncaring or do not want to be part of an open adoption. Mr. Rizzo never wavered in his commitment to the birth son he placed for adoption. He persisted in his efforts to remain in contact with his birth son in the face of an unending series of obstacles that would have deterred a less resilient and determined man. More profoundly, Mr. Rizzo forgives the adoptive family, and clearly shows that his intention was never to interfere with the adoption or replace the adoptive parents. His objection was merely to give his son the gift of knowing his adoption was done out of love, so he would know his birthfather loved him always. Mr. Rizzo’s narrative is riveting. His story is poignant, heartbreaking, and ultimately deeply inspiring. This is a story of a love so deep that it could overcome any difficulty. Mr. Rizzo shows that adoptive parents should not fear birthfathers, but embrace them as a vital, and important, part of an open adoption. I would encourage adoption professionals to invite Mr. Rizzo to speak to both adoptive and potential adoptive parents, as well as birth families. Ann Wrixon, MSW, MBA Executive Director!!!!!!!!!!!!!