A Letter from Our Founders
We were sitting in rocking chairs (not because we’re in our 60s, we’ll have you know) on the porch at Tom’s Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire house in the summer of 2011, just looking out over the water and talking. It was July, and we were up there for a few days to do a trial bike ride and run up Wildcat Mountain. It was a month before we’d be competing in the crazy annual biathlon called the Wildman. It would be our second attempt at the event that Bruce’s daughter conned us into doing. She was interested in competing; we were interested in surviving.
Since junior high, we have been close friends. Our paths have been separate, seeing each other occasionally after high school and staying in touch as much as time offered. Tom built an advertising specialty business from scratch, and developed it into one of the most respected businesses in the industry. To Tom, it was all about the brand and how to help companies build a solid one. He’s a pro at knowing how to get a message out and make the audience feel that they’re part of it. Bruce took the educational and corporate route – earning degrees in engineering, business, and eventually a Ph.D. in health as he turned 62. His road took him from founding technology start-ups to creating a wellness center in Pennsylvania.
We were sitting there talking about how nice it would be to do something together after all these years – something that would be worthy of our efforts and benefit others. Our recent efforts to get in shape for the biathlon and our advancing age, of course, helped put our focus on health. We talked about the epidemic of childhood obesity and how the cost of poor health in America is breaking the country. We touched on how chronic illnesses, which account for 75% of all healthcare costs, are now passed on to succeeding generations through epigenetic influences. This predisposes successive generations and makes them more vulnerable to poor health throughout their lives while simultaneously sinking the country financially. It was clear: America’s economic health had become bound to its physical health.
Our discussion that day unveiled a desire to reverse the trend of abdicating responsibility for one’s health to others, which has resulted in an out-of-shape, overweight, unhealthy, and over-medicated populace. We understand that our generation is aging and, although it’s never too late to improve our health and quality of life in the years remaining, the source of the actual fix lies within our children. We knew whatever we did had to be educational, innovative, inspirational, and cause a lasting transformation rather than a short-term fix. “As the twig is bent, so grows the tree”… and the saplings are counting on us!
We set out to create a symbol and an organization that will stand for the challenge and take the lead in this battle toward being a healthy nation once again. We accept that challenge and therefore stand as “one for health.” We will strive to make it a national “brand,” where we all work for the common good and where a piece of everything goes towards helping our kids take the lead themselves one day. We believe that in this “American” way, we all have the chance to give a little and get a little. We can make use of the tremendous energy and opportunity afforded by our business roots as a society, alongside non-profit and individual efforts and contributions. We recognize our suppliers can give a little more in their discounts. We expect corporations and insurance companies to give a little by way of incentives and give up some profits. Consumers can choose to buy quality products that carry a message and inspire, and that anyone can give up old notions for better health to steer their lives, our children’s lives, and our futures toward something better.
What we propose is to collectively nourish a weakened nation and provide the opportunity for empowerment through personal responsibility, a principle that our country embraces. All in an effort to help create a new opportunity for our children and our country, by us and for us. It is something we are good at as Americans: fighting with our back against the wall and overcoming great odds. The call is right here and right now. We believe it is both urgent and achievable.
We must all participate, and we can! Individuals, companies, families, schools, the government, older adults, younger people, and everyone in between – we are all in it together, and we are in it to win it. We hope you'll join us on this journey.
Sincerely,
Bruce and Tom
All for One and One for All
One for Health
Since junior high, we have been close friends. Our paths have been separate, seeing each other occasionally after high school and staying in touch as much as time offered. Tom built an advertising specialty business from scratch, and developed it into one of the most respected businesses in the industry. To Tom, it was all about the brand and how to help companies build a solid one. He’s a pro at knowing how to get a message out and make the audience feel that they’re part of it. Bruce took the educational and corporate route – earning degrees in engineering, business, and eventually a Ph.D. in health as he turned 62. His road took him from founding technology start-ups to creating a wellness center in Pennsylvania.
We were sitting there talking about how nice it would be to do something together after all these years – something that would be worthy of our efforts and benefit others. Our recent efforts to get in shape for the biathlon and our advancing age, of course, helped put our focus on health. We talked about the epidemic of childhood obesity and how the cost of poor health in America is breaking the country. We touched on how chronic illnesses, which account for 75% of all healthcare costs, are now passed on to succeeding generations through epigenetic influences. This predisposes successive generations and makes them more vulnerable to poor health throughout their lives while simultaneously sinking the country financially. It was clear: America’s economic health had become bound to its physical health.
Our discussion that day unveiled a desire to reverse the trend of abdicating responsibility for one’s health to others, which has resulted in an out-of-shape, overweight, unhealthy, and over-medicated populace. We understand that our generation is aging and, although it’s never too late to improve our health and quality of life in the years remaining, the source of the actual fix lies within our children. We knew whatever we did had to be educational, innovative, inspirational, and cause a lasting transformation rather than a short-term fix. “As the twig is bent, so grows the tree”… and the saplings are counting on us!
We set out to create a symbol and an organization that will stand for the challenge and take the lead in this battle toward being a healthy nation once again. We accept that challenge and therefore stand as “one for health.” We will strive to make it a national “brand,” where we all work for the common good and where a piece of everything goes towards helping our kids take the lead themselves one day. We believe that in this “American” way, we all have the chance to give a little and get a little. We can make use of the tremendous energy and opportunity afforded by our business roots as a society, alongside non-profit and individual efforts and contributions. We recognize our suppliers can give a little more in their discounts. We expect corporations and insurance companies to give a little by way of incentives and give up some profits. Consumers can choose to buy quality products that carry a message and inspire, and that anyone can give up old notions for better health to steer their lives, our children’s lives, and our futures toward something better.
What we propose is to collectively nourish a weakened nation and provide the opportunity for empowerment through personal responsibility, a principle that our country embraces. All in an effort to help create a new opportunity for our children and our country, by us and for us. It is something we are good at as Americans: fighting with our back against the wall and overcoming great odds. The call is right here and right now. We believe it is both urgent and achievable.
We must all participate, and we can! Individuals, companies, families, schools, the government, older adults, younger people, and everyone in between – we are all in it together, and we are in it to win it. We hope you'll join us on this journey.
Sincerely,
Bruce and Tom
All for One and One for All
One for Health