Lights It Up Blue For Autism - Teamsters Local 25

Chris Herren, an ex-Celtic who attended Durfee HighSchool in Fall River, Massachusetts, spoke to a standingroom only audience at the Teamsters Local 25 monthly meetingon April 15, 2012.This particular meeting had an unusual audience—it wasmade up of many children of the membership of Local 25. Thechildren were there to hear Herren’s message to stay away fromdrugs. After Herren’s 50-minute speech, where he paced back andforth recalling his drug-filled rollercoaster ride as a Division 1basketball star and promising NBA point guard, all who heardhim were thoroughly moved and shaken by his personal life story.“Chris Herren shared his life history with our membershipand their children and I want to thank him for being so openand honest with the audience. Every child in that room willthink twice the next time someone offers them drugs,” saidSean M. O’Brien, President of Teamsters Local 25.“Herren’s speech was riveting, my two children sat in theaudience mesmerized by his honesty and candidness,” saidKris Crawford, a member of Local 25 who works at Roadway.Christopher Albert Herren, born September 27, 1975, is anAmerican former professional basketball player. He started hiscollegiate career at Boston College, but left after one year tojoin Jerry Tarkanian’s Fresno State team. After college, Herrenwas selected by the Denver Nuggets in the 2nd round (33rdoverall) of the 1999 NBA Draft. A 6’2” guard, he played for theNuggets and the Boston Celtics during his NBA career.Chris Herren founded the Herren Project in 2011. TheHerren Project is a non-profit foundation established to assistEx-BasketballStar CaptivatesChris Herren Delivers Important Anti-Drug MessageL to R: (across top) Chris Herren, with arm on Ryan Hastings, Kaitlyn Hastings, UPS Steward Scott Hastings, Danielle Bassett, ChrisHerren, UPS Steward George Bassett, UPS Steward Michele Joshua, Rosie Dunlap, Chris Herren, Joan Corey from the City of Woburn,Chris Herren and Kevin Hardy, Ryan DiSilva, Trish DiSilva , Sydney DiSilva , Matthew DiSilva , Matt DiSilva and Julia DiGiovanni, KarenCrawford, Kris Crawford, Chris Herren, Danielle Crawford, Shane Crawford. (across bottom) President Sean M. O’Brien presents Chris Herrenwith a Teamsters Local 25 pullover and a check for his foundation, Chris Herren addressing the audience, Sean O’Brien and Chris Herren.