A former Michigan State basketball player and anti-bully advocate Anthony Ianni is in town Friday to talk with drivers at Dean Transportation.
Ianni and the Relentless Tour are making stops around the state to help inspire people to take a stand against bullying.
The Michigan Department of Civil Rights announced the Relentless Tour, a first-of-its-kind anti-bullying initiative.
Ianni was a member of Michigan State University's 2010 and 2012 Big Ten Champion and Tournament Championship teams and the 2010 Final Four team.
He will be at Dean Transportation at Gardner Middle School on 333 Dahlia Drive, at 10:30 Friday morning.
Ianni knows bullying. He was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of 4 and was the victim of bullying as a child.
He graduated from Michigan State University and became the first known individual with autism to play Division I college basketball.
Studies show that students with autism are frequently targeted by bullies, with an estimated 65-90% of individuals with autism having been victims of bullying at some point in their lives.
"Bullying is something we must put an end to, not only in Michigan but across the country," said Ianni. "Everyone is affected by bullying in some way and students with autism are at incredibly high risk to be victimized. Our hope is that through my story and spreading our message we can not only inspire kids to take a stand against bullying but also make bullies rethink their actions."
To learn more, or to request a speaking engagement with Ianni, visit http://relentlesstour.com.
