To me, life is about giving back. I’ve been fortunate in my own, but I’ve never been ‘given’ anything. I’ve worked very hard to build my business and maintain a healthy family life. I never really set out to get rich. I wanted to build a business that had a solid reputation and would afford me the opportunity to help others. It all started in the early 90’s when I was serving in the Peace Corps. I was based in Honduras close to the border of El Salvador, where a civil war was being raged. Young kids were showing up with horrific injuries. After seeing a young girl being fitted with prosthetics, I was introduced to the Shriners and their work with injured and disabled children. I knew right then what I wanted to do.

After returning to the states years later I began my journey to build a business and become a Shriner. I buy pool plaster by the truckloads and use my Amex for the purchases. Tempool had amassed millions of frequent flier miles in the process, and I was going to donate them to one of the head Shriners when another member recommended donating the miles to fly burned and injured kids to the hospitals. The next day I went to the Shriners and donated a million miles.

It means the world to me to help others and give back. Pool & Spa news wrote an article about my experience and my hope is that it inspires others to do the very same thing…work hard and give back.

-JT-