Jeremy Bloom – Wish of a Lifetime
In 2008, Jeremy Bloom founded Wish of a Lifetime as a tribute to his beloved grandmother, Donna Wheeler. Jeremy’s grandparents played a significant role in his life – his grandmother Donna lived with them as he was growing up, and his grandfather Jerry taught him how to ski when he was three years old by throwing candy bars down the mountain slopes. Later, as a member of the United States Ski Team, Jeremy had the opportunity to travel around the globe for ski competitions. While in Japan for one of his first World Cup competitions, he witnessed a small act of kindness that would stick with him forever. Jeremy was riding near the back of a very crowded bus when an elderly woman approached the doors. Just as he was wondering how the woman could stand in the packed bus, everyone in the front immediately rose from their seats, helped her aboard, bowed to her and made sure she was seated comfortably before the bus moved forward. At 17, Jeremy was struck by this commonplace demonstration of respect—something that he had rarely seen in the U.S.
For the next seven years, he witnessed countless other acts of kindness and respect for elders all across Europe and Asia. Jeremy founded Wish of a Lifetime in order to bring that same culture of respect to the United States. Jeremy achieved success on the ski slopes as a two-time Olympian and eleven-time World Cup gold medalist, as an All-American Football player for the University of Colorado and later in the NFL, and most recently in the business world as the co-founder and CEO of Integrate. He founded Wish of a Lifetime on the premise that senior citizens should be respected, honored, and aided in our society.