Feed Your Mind
What’s behind the concept, the cause, the founder and his dream.
There is also an opportunity for someone to receive substantial equity in this company in exchange for them
2. FEED YOUR MIND
THE STORY BEHIND THE
CONCEPT, THE CAUSE, THE
FOUNDER AND HIS DREAM
and
A Request For Help
Steven R Bohannon
3. There is one elementary truth, The ignorance of which kills
countless ideas and splendid plans, that the moment one
definitely commits oneself then providence moves too. All
sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise
have occurred – a whole stream of events issues from the
decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen
incidents and meetings and material assistance which no one
could have dreamed would have come their way. Whatever
you can do – or dream you can do – begin it! Boldness has
genius, power and magic in it.Begin it now!” Goeth
Never Stop Believing!
4. Feed Your Mind
Concept and Mission Statement
Concept:
Form a company that focuses on innovative, outside the box
ideas or products that will help charitable organizations by using
“Cause Marketing” as part of the overall Marketing Strategy. This
could include existing brands or development of a new products
and brands. The goal is to have an immediate high impact result
for both the brand and the cause.
Mission Statement:
Introduce concepts and products that make a difference in the
market place and people’s lives now! Investigate the Powerful
Possibilities through Inspired Innovation and Instill a renewed
Pride and Passion in every endeavor.
5. Feed Your Mind Go To Market Strategy
Turn key products or services, some of which take relatively little time to manage
(License Agreements). Broader than just vending, but all related to Feeding Your
Mind. Starting brand possibilities (Note that I have abbreviated some of the TM
because I have not yet taken steps to protect myself.
• "Feed Your Mind" Vending – Registered TM Class 09.
• "Forget Something?" Vending – TM approval pending
• "S. U." – Simple and fun Need to seek TM approval
• "Feed Your Mind" Kiosk – Downloadable Music & Books
• "M. W." - Details available with NDA - Electronic Device
• "T, T & T" – Need to seek a Provisional Patent- Game
• "All Of A Sudden Children’s Books" – Have written 10 books (unpublished) -
Could use some help by a co-author
• "Catch A Feeling" – Have .com Domain
• "The Lemonaide Stand" – Have .com Domain
• "InspiReality" – Have .com Domain
• "Web Vending" Concept - Very detailed description is available
6. About Feed Your Mind Vending
• The FEED YOUR MIND vending solution offers a variety of products that educate and entertain for all ages.
Our product mix includes Crossword Puzzles, Sudoku, Games, New and Used Books, Novels, Cards, Self
Improvement Books, Maps and more. Additionally, we offer a variety of healthy and nutritious good tasting
snacks to choose from. Waiting at places like Airports, Bus and Ferry Terminals, Banks, Subways, Train
Stations, Doctor’s and Dentist’s offices, Hospitals, Courthouses and Auto Repair Shops top the list of places people find
themselves waiting
• The "Forget Something?This concept and machine was developed with dormitories at universities
and colleges being the main target offering items that students may need in the middle of the night
or any time and just don't want to go out. Academic buildings, the gymnasium and library also do
well. Some examples are memory sticks, pen & pencil sets, Top Ramon, microwave popcorn,
personal care items or any items that a student may need 24/7-365.
• One unexpected benefit of our machines is that sales actually increase in competitive machines next to us when
we place our machines. Coke and another national vending company rep expressed very pleased about this fact
at a couple of our locations.
• We have also learned that adding variety by changing the product mix occasionally sparks sales in both books
and snacks.
• Since Free is the strongest word in advertising, We feel like a BOGO where a customer buys a book and gets a
free snack could be very effective
• One final opportunity we feel would be good is offer gift cards for local merchants in the area
7. TRACTION
Current Installs
Highline Medical-1
Cleveland High School-2
CWU-6
On Our To Do List
Seattle Center -2
Merrill Gardens
WSF
More Hospitals
CWU – 6 more
Seattle School District
Milestones
Feb 07 – FEED YOUR MIND founded
Jan 08 – Formation of LLC
Mar 08 – 1st
Install, Seattle Center House
June 08 – Registered Trademark Class 09
Oct 08 - Approved for Class 35
Oct 08 – Randy Overturf became CEO
Feb 09 – Team Fox Partnership
April 09 - Tom Kelly joins BOD
Dec 09 - Began pursuit of licensing
Sept 10 - License Agreement Vendpro
February 11- Dissolved License Agree
April 2011 – Placed 6 machines CWU
10. Key Numbers
• In 2009 we h ad $31000 in gross sales on 21,000 units. I consider this good considering the strength of the locations we
marginal at best. This was also achieved without any marketing.
• The latter part 2010 and the early part of 2011 were weak based on the transition to a different targeted account. There
were also some service issues during this time which negatively effected sales but have been corrected. Also, the fact th
we had 6 machines in my garage for about 2 months plus lost the use of one machine during this transition did not help.
Finally, my heath also was a significant contributor to the weak sales.
• Mark up on items ranges between 2 to 5 times the cost and the dollar ring is much higher on books than snacks.
• The following is an example of the difference of stocking books and snacks versus traditional vending. We sold 5 bo
and 10 snacks. See below recap. The dollar profit on the snacks is about $9.00, but the dollar profit on the books is $2.7
$6.00 + $3.00+ 3.00 +3.00 for a total of $17.75. This is equal to the dollar profit that it would take sales of nearly 20 sn
items priced at $1.00 to $1.50 to generate. If you just focused on snacks the higher sales will also require more servicin
which can be costly if you need to restock a couple of times per week.
• If you just improve the locations to higher traffic locations plus offer books with more grabber titles and/or authors plus
marketing or skins, you can easily justify extrapolating these numbers to at least double if not triple.
• A BOGO promotion is possible with books offering a free snack when you buy a book. Many snacks cost between $.2
and $.25 per unit and sell for $1.00. The perceived value therefore is $1.00 for the free item which makes it even more
enticing.
• Based on gross sales with 10 machines, 2500 machines would give us gross sales of $7.7MM. There is considerable
upside for us to improving both location as far as the general location, but also the location within the location. Based o
this, I can see producing double or even triple what we earned in 2009. If in fact my assumptions are correct. The
machines should be able to produce $14M to $21m per year.
•
• The Coke rep shared with me that their sales are up significantly because our machines draw more people to the vendin
area.This is huge in the effort to gain placement. Note there are over 100,000 location possibilities.
11. PROJECTED DOLLAR SALES
Improved Locations + Higher Average Price + More Locations
Loc Sales % Total Trans % Total Pr/Tran Pr/Targ Loc Rat Targ
Rt
Tar
Rev
Yr Rev Prc Adj
SC 1 239.40 4.64 154 3.87 1.60 5 % 5 8 1400 8400 8820
VM 135.25 2.62 75 1.89 1.80 5 % 2 7 1250 7500 7875
Highline 684.25 13.26 410 10.31 1.67 5 % 6 7 1250 7500 7875
Overlak 103.75 2.01 45 1.13 2.31 5 % 2 8 1400 8400 8820
SM 1 234.75 4.55 147 3.70 1.60 5 % 3 7 1250 7500 7875
SM 2 723.60 14.02 551 13.85 1.31 5 % 4 7 1250 7509 7875
SC 2 278.25 5.39 141 3.55 1.97 5 % 4 7 1250 7500 7875
EVERG 173.76 3.37 104 2.62 1.67 5 % 3 7 1250 7500 7875
CLEV 1 1178.00 22.83 1053 26.47 1.12 5 % 7 8 1500 9000 9450
CLEV 2 1408.70 27.30 1297 32.61 1.09 5 % 7 8 1500 9000 9450
Machine
10 83790
100 837900
1000 8379000
10000 83790000
Notes and Perspecitve
•Projections based on improved location rating and a 5% increase in dollar ring
•Gross profit included sale price less COG. Does not include revenue share,
donation or additional expenses
•Highline is a small hospital, about 10% the size of some of the larger hospitals.
Even with scenario, it would take less than a year to pay off one machine.
12. About Our Cause
Parkinson's Disease
The Personal Impact
We from the 20’s to 80’s. We come from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds. We are
husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sons and daughters. We are like everyone else, but
our lives changed one day.
About 50% of us have our speech affected, talking softly and sometimes with a slur. We
used to smile but now often have a blank look and rarely blink. We used to walk with a
regular stride with our arms swinging and now we shuffle along with arms at our side.
Some of us have a hard time with balance. Others actually freeze when trying to walk.
Some of us have bradykinesia (hard to initiate movement) and some of us have
dyskinesia (involuntary movement). Some of us are rigid and some of us stoop forward.
Some of us have dexterity problems and some of us have a tremor that shakes part of or
our whole bodies. Some of us even drool occasionally because the once automatic
response of swallowing is not automatic anymore. Many of us cannot sleep and are up
half the night.
Whatever combination of symptoms we may have, the things we used to take for granted
are harder now. And because the symptoms are embarrassing the majority of people with
PD withdraw and disappear from life as they once knew it. Thus, it has become known as
the “Silent Epidemic”.
13. It Could Happen
• It could happen to you or a loved one as there is a 100% chance that each family will have at
least one person come down with a chronic illness in their lifetime.
• But we have a lot of hope that a cure is so very close. Many researchers claim that PD will be
the first along the path to curing other neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, MS, MD
and ALS. And when this happens, literally millions of people and their families will no longer
suffer. Consider the following quotes from the NIH website concerning PD research.
“ Many of the critical research needs, if solved for Parkinson's disease, would immediately apply to
other disorders. For others there is substantial, though not complete, overlap. While this document is
properly focused on Parkinson's disease research, the relevance of this research agenda for other
diseases should be noted. Parkinson's disease research can lead the way in the fight against all
forms of neuro degeneration. The converse is also true.”
“ A new optimism that Parkinson's disease can be defeated is energizing the research community
and patient advocates. Halting the progression of Parkinson's disease, restoring lost function and
even preventing the disease all now seem realistic goals. Several factors fuel this hope. The pace of
discovery in basic neuroscience is accelerating and there is growing understanding of the cellular
mechanisms that damage cells and trigger cell death”
14. Financial Impact
There is another side to the chronic diseases that impact so
many lives. Not many people are aware of the facts.•
Did you know………
•Over the next 25 years, SS has promised to pay $25 Trillion more
than it can afford to pay.
•Medicare currently spends 2.7 % of our GNP and this will
increase to 9.3% of our GNP by 2050.
•There are over 1.5 million who have Parkinson’s currently and
that number is increasing by about 60,000 per year.
•The cost for PD alone is $29 Billion per year.
•The costs of chronic diseases each year is over $2 trillion
•There are over 900 neurological diseases and when one is cured,
many others will closely follow..
No wonder we can’t find the funds to expand health care! But if we
find some cures, we will not need to.
15. There Is A Better Way
• With the right focus and resources, we could have a system that
effectively reduces the need for healthcare versus a system to
expand healthcare, and the benefits would be huge. There are
several million people in the U.S. and globally that would be
immensely grateful.
• SCIENCE HAS MADE HUGE STRIDES AND IS ADVANCING AT AN
EXPONENTIAL RATE. WITH YOUR HELP, FINDING A CURE CAN
BE FAST TRACKED AND HAPPEN VERY SOON!
• And scientists are saying this is not pipe dream. The technology is in
fact available right now. More money, focus and collaboration are
the only missing ingredients. It is not cheap, but relative to health
care costs, it isn't that much. You would obviously spend $50 million
in a heartbeat if you could save $100 billion, right?
16. Researchers Need Resources
• Researchers are making progress, but if we could only put the right funding, focus
and setting of priorities, they could solve this disease and others so much faster.
Consider the following quote from a recent Michael J Fox Foundation newsletter.
"The enormous progress we have seen is a prime example of how the right
resources, coupled with a highly focused program can really accelerate a field."
• Do researchers currently have the needed resources and incentives? The following
quote from a recent Mayo Clinic newsletter concerning Alzheimer’s research answers
that question.
“right now we are faced with one of our greatest challenges outside the laboratory.
That's because limited federal reimbursement, a concern to all of us in the medical
community, has forced us to rely more and more on generous individuals such as
you if we're to expand on the progress we've made in Alzheimer's research."
Understand that by no means suggesting that supporting FYM will solve the shortage of
funding, but hopefully it will make a difference.
17. Why Support
Feed Your Mind ?
THE CAUSE:
ACCELERATED CURES - CHRONIC DISEASES - FOCUS ON THOSE THAT WILL HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT FIRST-
SUPPORT CURES FOR ALL CHRONIC DISEASE BUT HAVE A GREATER FOCUS ON A SPECIFIC DISEASE AT A TIME.
THE MEANS:
VENDING MACHINES FOR BOOKS PLACED IN PLACES WHERE PEOPLE WAIT
PRODUCTS DISPENSED INCLUDE USED BOOKS
THE WHY
What We Offer:
• Jobs – We can create hundreds of jobs if we get the funding to get us to the first level which is national distribution,
• Offer a multitude of new items which will create even more jobs
• Offers healthy alternatives to traditional vending
• Offers research money to defeat costly diseases and relieve suffering. If successful this could save over $1 Trillion
each year. Effectively reduces health care versus always looking to expand it.
• Communicates and educates
• Promotes Literacy
• Promoted activities to help prevent or even reverse dementia which is a huge issue in a very large percent of the
population as baby boomer start their senior years/.
• Helps fund raising by charities which with today’s economy is a challenge and earns money 24/7.
• The deficit, jobs, healthcare, healthy alternatives, exercising the mind, education are the HOT topics right now. FYM
addresses them all.
THE DONATION:
FYM will donate a fixed amount for each sale to Michael J Fox Foundation plus THE ORG GAINING PLACEMENT and/or
accepting placement gets a percent of revenue (Gross-COG) which they have the option of adding a portion to a cause of
their own or to THE MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION.
18. Michael J. Fox Foundation
Letter Of Endorsement
` Mr. Steven Bohannon
Feed Your Mind LLC
` 711 Village Circle NW
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Dear Steve,
``I am writing this letter to express my enthusiasm for your valuable and creative endeavor Feed Your Mind. It’s a refreshing alternative to a vending machine of ``snack foods, to
find literature and games in waiting rooms, transportation platforms, and community centers. We are extremely grateful for your commitment and
dedication to the fight against Parkinson’s disease and honored that you have chosen to donate certain proceeds from Feed Your Mind to The Michael J. Fox
Foundation, through our grassroots fundraising program, Team Fox.
Charitable contributions through business ventures such as yours prove to be successful both in terms of money raised for research and energy and awareness
galvanized for Parkinson’s among those who will have contact with your Feed Your Mind machines. Your activities give hope to others, and mobilize desire into
action, making progress possible. You also help move forward The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s mission of helping scientists find a cure for Parkinson’s disease
within our lifetime.
Funding significant research initiatives is only possible with the help of people like you. We believe that a cure for Parkinson’s disease will be found through a
strategic and aggressively funded research agenda. We also believe that because of the dedication of people like you this dream will become a reality for millions l
living with the disease. Thank you.
To date, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research has invested close to $176 million in the field, either directly or through partnerships. Since our
inception, The Michael J. Fox Foundation has maintained an uncompromising pace, inspiring and advancing research. We strategically target our resources to
achieve maximum scientific impact. In 2010 we continue to invest in promising areas of research including clinical trials, cell replacement strategies and tools that
could advance the entire field, such as improved animal models of Parkinson’s disease, that are mission-critical to the development of neuroprotective treatments.
Our initiatives attract and support established world-class scientists as well as researchers new to the field of Parkinson’s. Every day, these research pioneers
face one harsh statistic: More than six million people worldwide live with Parkinson’s disease. Finding a cure for them has never been more urgent.
As you prepare and seek sponsorship and support, please know that I would be happy to talk with any of your sponsors about the research we fund or any aspect
of the Foundation’s mission, should they desire more information. My number is (212) 509-0995 x226.
A Parkinson’s cure remains within reach because people like you are helping to keep quality scientific work moving forward.
All the Best,
Veronique Enos
Church Street Station • PO Box 780 • New York, NY 10008-0780 • Tel. 212-509-0995 • Fax 212-509-2390 • www.michaeljfox.org
Major Gifts Officer
19. TESTIMONIALS• Below are just a few examples of people's reaction to FEED YOUR MIND. I could list many more. We regularly get people walking up to us when we service
the machine raving about the idea.
• "Hi Steven- It was a pleasure speaking with you today. You have such a nice, unique approach to vending machines! My husband who passed away from
cancer 5 years ago and I always had to wait due to his treatments and appointments, I truly wish that Duke Hospital would have had one of these vending
machines. I wish you much success!"
• A FYM Customer & Advocate
• "Thank you for your email information. I believe the healthy and entertaining approach is exactly what sets you apart"
• Juanita Wolfe Seattle Center
• "I am writing this letter to express my enthusiasm for your valuable and creative endeavor Feed Your Mind. It’s a refreshing alternative to a vending
machine of snack foods, to find literature and games in waiting rooms, transportation platforms, and community centers"
• Veronique Enos - Michael J Fox Foundation
• "you have something great here in the rough and I will plan it, design it, polish it and sell it to where we are the diamond I know we can be."
• Former CEO candidate, Boeing Executive
• "keep on changing the world Steve, one university at a time.
• VP - CWU
• "Highline Medical Center is honored to be a site for a Feed Your Mind vending machine. The philosophy of Feed Your Mind is very compatible with our
mission as a health care provider and it is "win - win" to provide a healthy alternative for our patients, staff and visitors and at the same time generate funds
to support not only the Parkinson's Disease Foundation but also our Volunteer organization which financially supports patient care initiatives."
•
• - Carol Hallen
• Assistant Administrator,
Highline Medical Center
•
•
• "Our Tourists and Visitors at Seattle Center are most appreciative of the variety of items available and also, the ease of operation of the machine whether
using cash or credit card. Their customer service is exceptional and we highly recommend Feed Your Mind vending machines."
•
• - Diane Woods
• Contract Assistant, Seattle Center
•
20. The Total Impact
THIS EFFORT IS WORTHWIHLE AND UNIQUE FOR MANY REASONS. IT OFFERS THE
FOLLOWNG.............
1. CONTINUOUS GIVING AS IT EARNS MONEY FOR CURES 365 DAYS PER YEAR
2. FOCUSES ON A BROADER PROBLEM - CURES FOR ALL CHRONIC DISEASES
3. YET IT CONCENTRATES MORE ON ONE FOCUS DISEASE AT A GIVEN TIME BASED ON
HAVING THE GREATEST IMPACT WHEN SOLVED
4. RECYCLES USED BOOKS THAT MAY SET ON OUR SHELVES FOR YEARS NEVER TO BE
LOOKED AGAIN AND THE PROCEEDS HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE
5. PROMOTES READING
6. PROMOTES EXERCISING THE MIND
7. IT OFFERS HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES WHEN WAITING TIME IS LONG.
8. IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CONTRIBUTE TO IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE, SAVING
LIVES AND SAVING BILLIONS TO TRILLIONS IN HEALTH CARE COSTS.
9. CREATES AWARENESS TO A SIGNICANT OPPORTUNITY
21. FYM CAUSE MARKETING STRATEGY
Ideas for cause marketing – Web membership
Value added programs where additional value is added to help
the cause
Tap into philanthropist and foundations with matching funds
Tap into businesses with an Feed Your Mind week or month
Have companies buy the vending machines in exchange for
advertising
22. My Story-My Dream
I have always been a dreamer. I believe… We need to look beyond what is, to what
could be; There is always a better way and we should always be looking for it; The
status quo is mediocrity and does not offer hope; We need to look beyond what we
know today and base our hope on what we might learn tomorrow; All great things start
with a dream, and we should never stop dreaming as this will keep our hope alive
Since retiring early due to physical limitations from Parkinson’s Disease (PD), I have
written children's books and poetry (unpublished), have lead a PD support group for the
last 6 years and my story has been included in 'Surviving Adversity' living with
Parkinson’s by Gord Carley. Today, as I have done for the past 5+ years, I continue to
work on an innovative business idea with one of the primary goals being to help fund
research and cures for debilitating diseases.
At times I think that I must be a little crazy, naive or half asleep and possibly a
combination of all of these. I am 62 years old, on disability income, have limited time
that my body and voice work each day and I am trying to start a company, while
investments have disappeared in a weakening economy - most would call this crazy.
I have a passion, however, because of the way this disease impacted my dad who
suffered horribly for years as it slowly took his ability to even swallow. Also for my
family I who quite honestly is struggling more with my disease than I am. I would
appreciate your support by allowing FEED YOUR MIND to be a very special part of
your lives in order to change the lives of millions with PD, Alzheimer's,MS. and ALS.
When one is cured they all will be according to scientist.
23. A Poem Of Hope
The party is over Mr. Parkinson
Many times you thought you had me down
But you did not even have me on the run
Now look at whose running as Gene is coming to town
No more cruel magician lurking
No more will you play a mean trick
Your foolishness is no longer working
All you do is make people sick
You add no value to this world
Off with you then to the history book
You try to take away dignity by making my speech slurred
And other embarrassing things that make people look
You may knock me down, but I get back up
You try to make life in general so very rough
You knock me down again and again' but I get up
You think your so BAD, but your not so tough
gene is coming to town and will soon track you down
In his pursuit , he will go where no gene has been before
He has a few tricks of his own like wearing a virus like a gown
He will then burst through cell walls and do much more
All of a sudden, Gene will show his face
And from Mr. Parkinson, there will be a spooky silence
He will be so scared, he will be moving all over the place
The power of Parkinson's will no longer be a pestilence
When Mr. Parkinson is caught
He will shake when sentenced as spectators look
The judge will say "The misery you have caused is a lot"
I sentence you to infinity without parole in a history book.
Beware Mr. Parkinson, you days are numbered
It is only a question of time until your mean ways are slumbered
I wrote this poem before having experimental gene therapy surgery at UCSF in
August. . The soonest that I will see any improvement will be 6 mos to 1 yr. While
this seems like an eternity, it gives me hope that my body will work again soon.
24. This Dream Can Come True
“Let’s cure this thing, we don’t need it!
Quote by a Michael J Fox Foundation Corporate Manager
Please contact Steve Bohannon at 206-842-0226 or
steve@feedyourmindvending.com if you are
interested in partnering to move this project
forward. I am willing to give substantial equity to
someone to take charge of this with an agreed on
action plan in place and even more for results.
Feed Your Mind-Mind A Need-Make A Difference Now!
25. Documents Available On Request
1.Metrics spreadsheet
2.Sales Data – Real Numbers and Projections
3.All books vs. snacks analysis
4.Used Book Analysis
5.Electronic Book vs bound book analysis
6.Executive Summary
7.Machine Mock-Ups with skins
8.Investor Presentation
9.Location Rating Tool
10.Location Presentation
11.Tax Returns
12.Current Locations – Easy Sell Locations – Other
Locations
Editor's Notes
Feed Your Mind gives back so much and has mark ups of 300 to 1000% so can afford to do so once some early start up costs are behind us and we have optimized a model at a given location with the right product mix, pricing, location, ect.
It difficult to ask for help after so many years of doing things myself. However, considering my health literally
Brings me to my knees at times lately, it is time to reach out in hopes some will see this opportunity as I do and have the time to put into it to take it to a higher level quickly and hopefully all the way eventually. I have basically risked my entire life’s saving on this venture, which may be crazy, but I am probably not the first entrepreneur who had a passion for his idea to do so. Whatever the end result is, I feel I can hold my head high because I gave it everything I had and then some and followed my dream in something I truly believe in.
Even though I am in the 11th hour and the clock is about to strike midnight, I have to believe that there is someone out there who will see the potential of this idea like I do and take this to the next level.
The list of new items, concepts, domain names is just a sampling of the ideas I have. I literally have pages of ideas and they keep on coming to my mind.
I feel we have proven the concept of Feed Your Mind Vending and have a lot of valuable test market information that could make it even stronger.
The university model using the "Forget Something?" brand needs more work, however, but the potential is there. We have some valuable test market information on this model also but have been limited in pursuing, due to my health and finances.
The most important information that this slide makes a point on is as follows:
There will be situations where five books sold is equal to about 20 snacks sold in dollar profit.
The fact is most of our locations were marginal based on limited hours, limited traffic, visibility.
The fact that coke sales are up because of our machines.
I have the results of a books only versus books + health snacks
I also have an analysis of electronic books versus a traditional book suggesting that both will thrive.
I was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1999. It was not that big a deal at the beginning, but it has become very challenging in the last 2 years. I can barely walk at times and actually freeze. But I am determined not to let this disease beat me and starting this company was one of the ways I have fought back.
This slide puts the problem into perspective. which as you can see with a 100% chance of at least one member of every family contracting a chronic disease, is pretty significant.
There is a lot hope, however, due the progress they are making in research and the exponential speed in which they are making it.
This slide says it all as far as the economic impact of that cures and prevention could have on health care and our economy as as whole.
Technology and knowledge support the fact that this is not a pipe dream. We are close to cures and are starting to initiate programs for prevention.
Understand by no means am I implying that Feed Your Mind will make or break this effort. If we are able to contribute even a very small piece of the funding needed to make this happen, it would be very gratifying.
I have meet many times in recent years with the Michael J Fox Foundation and have read many articles and books that support the fact that with more resources. focus and collaboration, cures can be found very soon. Scientist claim they have the technology.
This slide pretty well speaks for itself. There are so many reasons to support Feed Your Mind!
Letter Of Endorsement of Feed Your Mind from the Michael J Fox Foundation.
Feed Your Mind has such a positive impact on so many things our country could use right now, it seems like it is a win for everyone if I can find the person who can take this all the way.
This slide just offers some ideas on how the cause marketing effort could be enhances. I am sure there are several other ideas that would work equally as well if not better.
I have such a passion for this that I spent most of our life's savings, which probably was not the brightest thing I ever did. But as the quote on the second page of this presentation suggests: There are so many ideas that entrepreneurs are so close on making successful, but they give up right before they make it.
I am close to having to the end this effort, however, as I am at a point with my health that I can barely walk at times and literally freeze. I am hopeful I find someone to help soon who will see the opportunity as I do before my dream ends prior to it being complete..
This is a poem I wrote before having experimental brain surgery at UCSF. I write poetry as a way of fighting and inspiring myself to stay strong as I battle this disease. I am determined not to let it beat me.
I had what is called gene therapy where they insert genes into two targeted area of the brain called the Substantia Nigra and Putamen.
The genes are encapsulated in a virus because a virus is the only thing that will penetrate a cell wall. I knew going into this that I had a 50% chance of being part of the placebo group who would not get the real surgery because they need this control to measure against the group who did get the real surgery. I look at it, however, as a 50% chance I would get the real thing and another way for me to fight back against the horrible disease that took my dad at an early age of 73 because he could no longer swallow. It is time this disease be defeated and placed in the history books!
I feel strongly that my ideas are solid and very viable as business models that can succeed. We have already proven this with Feed Your Mind Vending. Even with Marginal Locations, we tested many product mix options, pricing and the location within locations. We proved that with just a slight adjustment that sales can be immediately impacted. With 10 locations ranging from poor to moderately good, we sold $31k in our second year in business. The support and enthusiasm we had during this year was almost magical. Part of this was due to Randy Overturf being the CEO as he was intent on providing customer service 2nd to none!
This dream can come true! All the pieces are in place.