PRESS RELEASE: NDUR AND MADD SPORTS LAUNCH AT BOSTON COLLEGE
Boston College Partners with MADD Sports and NDUR for Athletes to Champion Student-Athlete Mental Health and Impaired Driving Prevention
Chestnut Hill, MA – August 22, 2025 — Boston College has officially joined the national movement to change the game for student-athletes by launching a groundbreaking partnership with MADD Sports and NDUR for Athletes. This innovative program addresses two pressing issues facing college athletes today: mental health and impaired driving.
The collaboration is a research-backed initiative tailored specifically for student-athletes, leveraging Boston College’s commitment to excellence and student well-being. Through the MADD Sports x NDUR platform, student-athletes gain access to a community based, mobile hub that provides mental wellness resources, peer and mentor support from former NCAA and professional athletes, mindfulness tools, and anonymous health check-ins. The program also integrates virtual reality education, substance misuse prevention, and immersive campus-wide engagement events.
“Boston College is proud to be among the first universities to adopt this initiative and reinforce our student-athletes’ safety, health, and leadership,” said Kenny Francis, Assistant Athletic Director. “This is about empowering our athletes not just to perform at their best, but to live their best lives—on and off the field.”
According to recent NCAA data:
83% of student-athletes report struggles with mental health;
Over 70% report alcohol use in the past year, with 51% reporting binge drinking;
Impaired driving remains a top killer of college-age individuals, claiming more than 1,500 lives annually.
Through this partnership, Boston College student-athletes will also take on the role of “Game Changers,” amplifying prevention and wellness messages to their peers and campus communities. By participating in the leadership academy, they will create social media content, lead peer campaigns, and drive a culture of care and accountability.
This new collaboration between MADD Sports and NDUR builds on NDUR’s longstanding work with Boston College, where its tech-enabled platform and on-campus Catalyst Program have supported student-athlete mental health through scalable, peer-driven solutions. NDUR’s digital tools offer branded wellness check-ins, reflective journaling, and a nationally networked peer-to-peer community, where real athletes are having anonymous, authentic, and supporting conversation —empowering athletes to take the lead in both personal growth and community impact.
“At MADD, we believe in the power of young leaders to change hearts, minds, and communities. Partnering with Boston College enables us to amplify athlete voices in ways that drive meaningful impact on mental health, informed decision-making, and campus safety. This is more than a program; it’s a movement led by student-athletes who embody strength, resilience, and responsibility”, says Stacey Stewart, CEO at MADD.
And, from Darren Orr, President of NDUR, “For me, working as an NHL agent with the Orr Group (Founded by Boston Bruins Hall of Famer Bobby Orr) for nearly two decades, I learned that leadership starts with integrity and heart. At NDUR, we’re proud to partner with Boston College and now MADD Sports to scale that belief, providing student-athletes with the tools, training, and technology to lead with purpose. Together, we’re creating a future where wellness is championed from the inside out.”
Together, Boston College and MADD Sports x NDUR for Athletes are redefining what it means to be a champion, and together creating a culture of wellness at BC and across the NCAA.
About Boston College
Boston College is a leading private Jesuit research university located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Known for its rigorous academics, elite athletic programs, and commitment to service and justice, Boston College prepares its students to lead lives of meaning and impact. With a strong tradition in collegiate athletics, Boston College student-athletes embody excellence both on the field and in the classroom, upholding values of integrity, leadership, and community.
About MADD Sports
MADD Sports is an initiative of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) that partners with sports organizations to engage athletes in impaired driving prevention and mental health advocacy. MADD Sports aims to empower student-athletes to serve as role models, utilizing their platforms to promote healthy and responsible choices and foster safer communities.
Please visit www.madd.org/maddsports for more information about MADD Sports.
About MADD Sports and NDUR for Athletes
MADD Sports is a national initiative of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), focused on impaired driving prevention and mental health advocacy. NDUR for Athletes is the leader in holistic mental health and wellness support for high school and college student athletes.
In a strategic partnership with NDUR for Athletes, the program engages student-athletes, amplifying their voices to champion safe and healthy choices on and off the field. By combining NDUR’s tech and leadership training with MADD Sports’ national reach, we’re creating a powerful model for athlete-led advocacy—grounded in lived experience, driven by resilience, and designed for long-term sustainability.
Learn more at: www.madd.org/maddsports and www.ndurforathletes.health
About MADD
Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is a national nonprofit leading the movement to end impaired driving for good. Since 1980, MADD has helped reduce drunk driving deaths in America by nearly 40%, saved more than 475,000 lives, and served more than one million victims and survivors. The organization is committed to leading prevention efforts with young adults, collaborating with law enforcement to keep our roads safe from impaired drivers, as well as advocating for stricter sentencing and stronger laws, including the HALT Drunk Driving Law that mandates anti-drunk driving technology in every new car. MADD continues to provide support services to victims and survivors of impaired driving at no charge through victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP. For more information or to donate, visit [http://%20/] https://madd.org/ and follow MADD on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.