Jon Kolb, NFL Legend
Jon Kolb is the Steelers nominee for the NFL's Salute to Service Award presented by USAA. Kolb has a soft spot in his heart for those who have served in the military, after he joined the Army National Guard his rookie year with the Steelers in 1969. After searching for a way to help others in the service, he founded the non-profit Adventures in Training with a Purpose (ATP). The organization addresses health and movement challenges and is focused on improving the lives of men and women who served in the military through purposeful training in an effort to empower them and provide them the freedom to move and perform daily tasks on their own. It allows Jon to use his master's degree in exercise science, combined with his vast knowledge of strength and conditioning as a player, to help others, many of whom are veterans, improve their quality of life. ATP's clients are active-duty military, veterans, and first responders, and all receive services free of charge. "The idea is to give people the freedom to move," said Kolb. "Sometimes you can improve the circumstances for people. You have individuals who are trapped in a prison by their own bodies because they don't have the freedom to move. The purpose is to have freedom and a quality lifestyle. I am very passionate about it. Most of us would regret the things we didn't do." The staff at ATP tailors a plan for each client based on physical wellness and adventure, with training three days a week and two adventures per month. In addition, they work with Aurelius, a specialized program for the treatment of veterans, military, and first responders dealing with traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, traumatic brain injury and pain in an effort to address all areas.