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Health, Wellness and Performance Coaching

The concept of “Be Well… Do Good” was a theme central to the original launch of US Corporate Wellness. Pursuing a state of well-being is clearly valuable, but it was never intended to stand alone. Rather, good health allows us greater opportunities to do GOOD! It provides more energy to help those around us, reduces both the time and financial resources often devoted to sickness, and provides a brighter outlook on life that allows us to look for opportunities to lend a hand to a neighbor. The goal of being well isn’t simply to “be well” in our own little isolated bubble. Rather, the goal of being well is to allow us to do more good in the world! The founders of US Corporate Wellness have made it their goal to model this by living out the mission in practical ways, some of which are highlighted here on the site.

Many organizations devote a percentage of their profits to specific charities, and we made the decision upon the launch of the company back in early 2007 to make this part of our core. We call it our 10% Commitment, a commitment to dedicate 10% of our profits to those in need.

We’d love to hear your stories of how “being well” has indeed provided you with an enhanced opportunity to “do good!” Please send us details to [email protected] and we’ll highlight some of them in upcoming newsletters.

After Suzanna returned from a trip to an orphanage in the Ukraine, we felt a tugging to help the mom’s and children in at least a small way. She had seen incredibly difficult conditions for the children, including prison-like settings and automatic dismissal with minimal training at the age of 16 (typically leading to prostitution and crime for the majority).

Eventually this lead us down two paths. The first was a major fundraiser along with Janus Charity Challenge and Ironman Arizona to help get the orphanage building started.

Simultaneously, Suzanna worked closely with the MOPS (Mothers of Pre Schoolers) organization to help make connections in an effort to help support the moms in the area. Headway is being made, and MOPS’ international efforts continue to make a difference in new corners of the globe every day. Want to help them out? Here’s the link: www.mops.org

In June of ’07, our family had an opportunity to spend a few days in Juarez, Mexico with a team building houses for the families in the area. Sounds pretty straightforward, right? Well, what we saw simultaneously both broke and spurred our hearts. Most families in the area – if they have a home at all – are living in shacks with a roof thrown together with plywood, tires and anything else that will help shade the 110 degree heat and at least slightly deflect the driving rainstorms.
Healthcare is minimal, and we were told that approximately 25% of the babies don’t survive due in part to lack of food. In fact, parents typically won’t give their babies names for several weeks or months until it looks like they have a good chance of survival.

One of the families receiving a home had 8 day old (un-named) twins. The new home obviously provided safety from the elements and we were able to provide them with at least a few weeks worth of baby formula. But they’re certainly not out of the woods. And when they do get their feet under them, there are many others with similar needs. Life-sustaining needs.

It’s our goal to help in some way. Formula, additional housing supplies, medical supplies. The organization we worked with down there was Missions Ministry. They’re down to earth people who are truly making a difference – one person at a time. Here’s their website if you’d like to find out more about either going down with a team or providing funds for formula, medical or house supplies: www.missionsministries.com

Back in the mid-90’s, Suzanna was volunteering at a local pregnancy center when she was introduced to a young teen who was several months pregnant and had absolutely no support system (no parents and absent father of the soon-to-be child). What took place next changed the lives of both the young woman and the Coopers, as she moved in with them (and their own baby girl) until a few months after the birth of the child. Fast forward 12 years… she’s now married with four children and as a result of some unexpected issues, returns to the Cooper’s house to live for 6 months. This is not the appropriate place for details, but we’re happy to report that she and her family are back on their feet and headed in the right direction. And the three Cooper kids still refer to her as their “big sister.”

When there’s hope in the future, there truly is a significant power in the present. But sometimes, there isn’t much hope available on which to grasp. And it’s for that reason that US Corporate Wellness started the “Spark of Hope Fund.” We’ve been very fortunate in our own lives, and realize this provides both an opportunity and a responsibility to help those who need a reason to visualize a positive future. This fund will be dedicated to helping providing just that – a spark of hope to those who have very little on which to build that future. Launched in 2009, this will be the primary outlet through which the USCW Team will continue to support the vision of “Be Well… and Do Good.”

The “Spark of Hope Fund” continued to be the primary focus of the US Corporate Wellness charitable financial support. We were excited to see the fund more than double during 2010, with plans to continue that trend in coming years. In addition to the organization’s financial commitment to our vision of “Be Well… and Do Good,” our organization’s founders also poured their lives into a number of other very worthwhile non-profit pursuits. The most significant of these was their involvement in the marriage ministry at their local church. Believing that marriages across the country are at a critical juncture, Brad and Suzanna headed up the marriage mentoring program and taught an extended marriage class, among other related aspects.

2011 presented a unique opportunity, as Ashley and Suzanna spent two weeks in Sierra Leone (West Africa) on a mission trip. They participated in a variety of pursuits on behalf of families in the area, including teaching and building.

In addition, Brad and Suzanna continued to invest their time in developing the marriage mentoring program at their local church. They meet regularly with couples looking to improve their marriages and help train additional marriage mentors.

2011 also marked the initial year of the new “You Lose…Kids Win!” fundraiser created and administered by US Corporate Wellness to help raise money for the health and wellness of children across the region. Be looking for more information about this exciting new event in the year ahead.

And of course, the Spark of Hope fund, the focus area of support for the US Corporate Wellness team, continued to grow in impact in 2011!

The Spark of Hope Fund continued to be the central avenue through which we lived out our 10% Commitment as an organization. In the process, we had a new thought along these lines that we’ll be implementing down the road at some point and wanted to provide you with a (very much in advance) sneak preview. The concept is based on the idea of “Wellness +1.” Making an effort to optimize our own health and wellness is step one. Just as the announcement on the airplane reminds us to put on our own oxygen mask before helping others (so that we are ABLE to help others), that first step towards our own personal wellness opens the door for the next step of helping those around us.

Now obviously you’re already using your own talents, time and finances to support those in need, but we thought you might also have fun being involved in helping us direct our commitment throughout the year as well. So at some point in the future, we’ll share with you a short list of charities we’re supporting and you’ll get a vote for where you’d like to see “your percentage” (the percentage will be dependent upon how many people participate) go at the end of the period. For each call you have with your coach, you’ll receive another vote! While we won’t be opening it up for you to suggest specific charities, we think you’ll find at least one of the organizations on the list will resonate with you 🙂

Thanks for continuing with us in this journey to Be Well… and Do Good! Stay tuned for more to come…

There are so many needs all around us – so many who are in need of that Spark of Hope that we – and I’m sure you – desire to bring through a kind word, a smile, a hand up or some financial support. In 2013, we supported a number of valued non-profit organizations with investments of both time and finances, ranging from our local church to the Special Olympics and others. However, the primary focus of our financial support was directed toward three areas that on first glance are about as different as different can be.

The first was an investment to build a well to supply water to the people of Tanzania. Tanzania is located in East Africa (bordered by Kenya, Rwanda, Congo and Mozambique and then the Indian Ocean to the East). Access to a clean water supply is very limited and this well will – we trust – provide at least a small spark of that valuable hope to the people in the area.

The second contribution of note was provided to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. This organization has historically had their greatest impact among the lives of high school and college athletes. In the past several years, they have expanded to provide resources and encouragement to athletes of all ages. In addition to the financial support, we also committed many hours of personal involvement/time in assisting the leadership of the organization as well.

The third portion of significant funding went to support the Semper Fi Fund. This fund provides immediate financial assistance and lifetime support to our injured and critically ill Armed Forces members and their families. These men and women sacrifice more than any of us can ever imagine to allow us all to live lives of freedom. We’re glad to have the chance to say “thank you” in a very small way.

We look forward to what the year ahead will provide and how we can continue to provide that spark of hope that benefits both the giver and the recipient!

2014 and 2015 brought a partnership with Team Endurning Hope, as it was among the newest charities to benefit from our Spark of Hope Fund. Team Enduring Hope involved an amazing team of people who competed in the 2015 Race Across America. This event is a 3,000 mile cycling race from Oceanside, CA to Annapolis, Maryland. 2 riders trade off with the clock running 24/7. The team won the 2-person category by over 24 hours (in just over 7 days, which converts to over 400 miles/day between the two riders). More importantly, they also helped raise over $50,000 to support the building of an orphanage for special needs children in Haiti. A special project indeed!

Stay tuned for more to come in the year ahead, and keep those stories coming about how YOU have seen your enhanced personal wellness improve your ability to help those in need around you. We’ll keep the stories you share anonymous, but they’re always an encouragement to all, so thank you!!

Close to home… and across the world. Our 10% Commitment in 2016 was spread across a wide variety of meaningful projects locally and internationally.

Locally, a portion of the funds went to help build a building for a local church. Simultaneously, on the other side of the world, funds helped supply water and other core needs for children and families in Tanzania, Africa.

While those were the focus of the US Corporate Wellness “Be Well…Do Good” approach in 2016, additional funds were allocated to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Compassion International, a variety of missionaries in several countries, and a wide range of local non-profit organizations serving those in need.

As always, we are grateful for your partnership on the wellness front that allows each of the above opportunities to be possible in the first place!