YMCA Welcomes Renowned Anti-bullying Speaker on May 5-6

SPRINGFIELD — In the spirit of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, the YMCA of Greater Springfield will welcome Wayne Soares to Springfield to educate and inspire the region’s youth. The anti-bullying advocates will conduct a series of talks with youth and teens from the YMCA on May 5 and 6.

Soares is an actor, inspirational speaker, and author. The former ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Net TV host is currently on a national anti-bullying tour.

He will be at the Dunbar YMCA, 33 Oak St., Springfield, on Tuesday, May 5, addressing elementary students from 4 to 4:40 p.m. and teens from 4:45 to 5:30 p.m. He will be at the downtown Springfield YMCA, 275 Chestnut St., on Wednesday, May 6, again addressing elementary students from 4 to 4:40 p.m. and teens from 4:45 to 5:30 p.m.

“It’s an absolute privilege to be able to bring my message to the YMCA kids of Springfield,” said Soares. “Bullying is something that I am extremely passionate about, having been a victim as a youngster. I’m looking forward to making an impact.”

Soares recently finished starring in the crime drama Snitches and has been cast for two additional films, Devil Within and Hunter. Last year Soares won a supporting role in the mob comedy The Curse of Don Scarducci, featuring Alec Baldwin.

He continues to entertain the men and women of the U.S. military both home and abroad, and has brought laughs and inspiration to troops in Afghanistan, Iraq, London, and Germany. His yearly trips prior to the holidays to military hospitals at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Frankfurt have become a tradition. He has been featured on the BBC Network, Armed Forces Radio & Television, and the Military Channel.

Soares has penned three books, and his newest, Stories That Make A Difference, will debut this summer. He is an ardent supporter of the Special Olympics, the Jimmy Fund/Dana Farber, and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.