Topics Include:
Overcoming AdversityAccepting and Celebrating DiversityDisability Awareness & SensitivityBullying and Teasing/Safe Schools Character DevelopmentBalancing Mind, Body and SpiritThe Power of VisualizationGoal Setting for Self AwarenessSelf-Esteem EnhancementEffective ParentingKeynote SpeakingMotivational Seminars
Biography
Through countless motivational presentations to schools, businesses and community groups, Denny Chipollini has shared his courageous personal stories to inspire his audiences to discover their unlimited potential, to accept and celebrate differences in themselves and in others, to use their differences to make a difference, and to live their lives according to his motto of "No Excuses ... No Limits!". Denny's program shows how to "lose the excuses" in life to reconnect with the dreamer in each of us and unlock the unlimited possibility in our lives.
Denny tells his audiences that "riches and wealth can often come in a different and more meaningful way than monetary. Life throws us things and it’s up to us to use what happens in a positive manner. We all have the choice and power to recognize adversity as life’s gift and to use the 'advantage of adversity' to help others and in turn we will be using our lives to the fullest." To connect his audience with their own gifts, Denny immerses them in his inspiring and moving personal story of confronting and overcoming a variety of adversity. Denny shares how he survived a serious car accident that severed both his legs. Doctors reattached both legs, but 15 surgeries later his reattached left leg was amputated due to massive infection. But Denny refers to his accident and leg as “gifts” because these events helped him change his life for the better and tap into his unlimited potential.
Four years after his accident and after being told he would never walk again, Denny ran his first five-kilometer race with the use of a prosthetic leg and continues to challenge himself by running marathons. In addition to running marathons to help share and inspire others with what he has learned in life since his accident, Denny also founded a non-profit organization called Generation Hope Fund in August 2001 with the mission of "inspiring and educating children and adults of all ages to overcome adversity and accept diversity and to live life with 'No Excuses ... No Limits!'" Yet, the driving inspiration for Generation Hope is Denny’s son, Nicholas. Shortly after running that first 5K race, Denny and his wife learned their son had an incurable genetic disorder, Neurofibromatosis (NF), along with Tourette, ADHD and learning disabilities. This additional personal setback as well as the bullying and teasing Nicholas has endured because of differences from his disorders inspired Denny to share his story and attempt to motivate others and educate the public about childhood disorders, diseases and disabilities, and to show kids of all ages there are No Excuses for bullying and No Limits to accepting and learning from others.
In May 2002, Denny successfully walked and biked over 400 miles across the state of Pennsylvania to share Generation Hope’s message and his message of perseverance and hope, and to model for kids and the country what it means to take action in your life to help others (it was also his way of not just talking the talk but also literally walking the walk!). Denny has also been fortunate enough to receive many honors including: United Parcel Service’s Community Service Award in 2000; Ford Motor Company's National Blue Oval "Commitment to Kids" Award in 2001; Distinguished Graduate Award in 2002 in Humanities from Plymouth Whitemarsh High School from which he is a graduate. Denny is also featured in Montel Williams' book, A Dozen Ways to Sunday, and was a guest on the Montel Show in December 2001, the same month in which he ran with the Olympic Torch in Philadelphia and he then carried the 2002 Paralympic Torch in Utah.
Program Titles
Living Life with “No Excuses…No Limits!”No Excuses for Bullying, No Limits for AcceptanceLet Your Efforts Rise Above Your ExcusesSet Goals and Visualize Your Way to SuccessUsing the Advantage of Adversity to Live Your Dreams!Take a Stand in LifeFinding Your Way Back to You!See It, Believe It, Be It!Parenting to Help Your Kids Help Themselves and Others
Hometown: Skippack, Pennsylvania (a small town one hour outside Philadelphia) Family: Wife Sue (she won't let me put her right age, so 29 and holding and holding and holding); son Nicholas, 14; and daughter Elyse, 10 Overcoming Adversity: Losing both legs, having reattached both, losing left leg to infection , hepatitis C, overcome prescription pain drugs, learning how to deal with son's genetic disorders, weight problem in adolescent years Education: Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School; one year of community college; cosmetology school Hobbies: golf, running, biking, weight lifting, cooking, playing computer games with my son and watching my daughter play soccer, basketball and lacrosse Favorite Quotes: "No Excuses, No Limits" -- Denny Chipollini Role models: anyone who has overcome an adversity and is doing something with it to help others Goals: To leave a legacy when I die to my kids and others, I want people to say "he used his life" he did everything to try to make a difference, he set an example Greatest accomplishment: My family (personal); my non-profit organization Generation Hope (professional) Describe the work you do to help others: I show to others how to believe in themselves, that they are as good as anyone else, to use the gifts God has given them, to help others through the journey of life and to live their life with " NO EXCUSES, NO LIMITS"
TESTIMONIALS
"My son told me that after hearing [Denny] speak, the students in his school were totally inspired - not only to try and accomplish their dreams, but also to be more sensitive to other’s needs and differences. Thank you for inspiring a 16-year old - that is no easy feat!" -- --Nancy Blair, parent of Malvern Preparatory High School student
"My team members all took something solid away from [Denny’s presentation]. I will be able to use Denny’s story to help facilitate conversation about motivation and obstacles." -- Justin DiPisa, HIV District Sales Manager, Abbott Labs
"I got bullied a lot. After I heard [Denny] talk and what your son went through, I realized if I wanted to get respect then I had to give it to others. So now I respect others and I’m getting respect back." -- Anonymous 7th grader, Hereford Middle School
"Today’s assembly was tremendous, as you brought onto campus a real live hero for our students to witness. And what was his message? That beautiful pictures are created from negative images. Photographers know this. And now, through Denny’s presentation, our students have been asked to reconsider this 'truth' in a very real and powerful way. Denny’s four points are also something that they do not get from Hollywood or Madison Avenue but they have heard here before at Malvern: Find your inner self, Set Goals, Accept Diversity, and Help Others. I am a firm believer that if we keep presenting this message in as many ways as possible, it will take root and grow in our students’ hearts and souls and bodies and minds." -- Mike Rawlings, teacher at Malvern Prep High School
"Denny Chippolini's presentation was nothing short of tremendous. I find it simply amazing that the accident, which changed his life, actually molded him into the positive inspirational force that he has become today." -- U.S. Customs Service
"Your story was inspiring and now I know I really can do anything! I also learned that I should not be complaining about my life! And I learned to wear my seat belt!" -- Lindsey Hayward, student at T/E Middle School
"Before [Denny] came here in October, I was getting Cs and Ds. But after his presentation, I reflected on what I was doing and where I wanted to go, and now I’m on the Honor Roll!" -- Anonymous 6th grader, Hereford Middle School
"As most of you know, I just got out of the hospital. What has helped me get through things is that I realized from [Denny’s] presentation that things happen and if you have a negative outlook, it doesn’t make it any better. So I realize that having a positive attitude regardless of what’s happening can help, thinking in a negative way only makes things worse and doesn’t change what’s happening." -- Anonymous 7th grader, Hereford Middle School, recently released from the hospital being treated for anorexia and depression
"When I see someone else getting picked on, I try to stop it by making fun of myself to take the heat off the kids getting picked on. If you make fun of yourself, then it helps the other kid not feel alone and it lightens things up." -- Anonymous 8th grader, Hereford Middle School
"Sometimes I think some of the smallest tasks are hard, just because they drive me nuts, but you and your son and the whole story that you shared with us has impacted my whole view on life -- thank you!" -- Mike Kenny, student at Malvern Prep High School
"Your presentation was very inspiring. It showed me that you can take a disadvantage and flip it into something good. I will look at people with a handicap very differently. Thank you." -- Tommy Ferguson, T/E middle school student
Realizing a Dream: Denny is a winner for participating in one of many marathons. His two young kids are always beaming by his side, right up to the finish line!
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