User:Keithbuchert

Jon Pritikin(born February 26, 1973 in Rockford, Illinois) grew up as a child battling many speech and learning disabilities. Due to these disabilities, he was taken out of class and placed with children who were mentally handicapped. He was bullied repeatedly and incurred abuse on a daily basis from other school peers and neighborhood children. Jon was told many times that he would never make it and this also contributed to a troubled childhood. In Junior High school, Jon became overweight which made his life even worse. His never give up attitude made it possible for him to continue and go on to college. Even though he was on academic probation and applied to numerous schools, he was finally accepted to Bethany University in Scotts Valley, California. Despite his speech impediment, Jon graduated from the university in 1995. After graduating, it was possible for him to share his anti-bullying message in the United States and around the world. He uses feats of strength as a tool to grab people's attention then proceeds to deliver his message. He started a non-profit organization in 1994 known as, "Feel the Power". This organization which is sponsored by the National Character Education Foundation has enabled him to become a motivational speaker and speak to over 3,000,000 people worldwide. Jon is the current Guiness record holder for "the tightest circumference of two aluminum frying pans rolled together with his bare hands in less than 30 seconds." Jon and his wife, Rhonda and daughter, Jaden currently reside in Lodi, California.