Scion of Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream Empire Who Chose Health over Wealth to Speak at Fifty-Plus “Dare to Be Fit” Weekend

(Palo Alto, December 5) Instead of adding to 31 lip-smacking flavors for Baskin-Robbins, the company his father founded, young John Robbins immersed himself in a passionate, lifelong crusade for a better America through healthy food choices and preservation of our environment. Walking away from a world of immense wealth, he opted instead to become one of the world’s leading advocates, author and lecturer on diet, exercise and longevity.

Robbins, a Santa Cruz California resident, will be one of the featured speakers in the two-day “Dare to Be Fit” weekend, on March 10^th and 11^th, 2007 at Stanford University. The event is the 24^th annual Fitness Weekend to be produced by Fifty-Plus Lifelong Fitness, a national health organization based in Palo Alto. Walter Bortz II, M.D., one of its founders, as well as a distinguished authority on aging and a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Stanford, will be among a host of other health professionals who will speak on topics related to nutrition, physical activity and optimal aging. Joyce Hanna, of the Stanford Health Improvement Project, Dr. Christopher Gardner, Director of Nutrition Studies at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, and Dr. Steven Blair, Professor in the Department of Exercise Science and Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina will speak at the conference on Saturday. Saturday evening will feature a pre-race awards dinner honoring Eva Auchincloss, founding director of the Women's Sports Foundation, with the Emil Zatopek Award and Joanie Greggains, popular host of the Joanie Greggains Show on KGO Radio and who has represented health and fitness in the media for over 20 years, with the Lifetime of Fitness award.

Sunday’s events include the Bay Area Senior Games and Race Exhibition, the Paul Spangler Memorial 8K race, as well as walking opportunities. Everyone is invited to join Joanie Greggains and surprise guests on a variety of fitness walks around the Stanford campus.

Robbins is the author of Healthy at 100, and half a dozen other bestsellers about diet, health and the environment. Robbins stresses the importance of social connections and intimate relationships to physical and mental health as humans age. He has been a keynote speaker at major conferences, including Physicians for Social Responsibility, Beyond War, the Sierra Club and the United Nations Environmental Program. He has received the Rachel Carson Award, Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Award and the Humane Society of the United States Award.

The health and environment advocate and thinker is considered to be one of the most eloquent and powerful spokespersons in the world for a sane, ethical and sustainable future.

He appeared on a myriad of national television shows, including Oprah, Geraldo and Donahue. He is founder of EarthSave Interactive an organization dedicated to healthy food choices, preservation of the environment and a more compassionate world.

“We are delighted and honored to have Mr. Robbins address our “Dare to be Fit” conference,” said Dr. Bortz. “As the preeminent National organization, that for the past 27 years, has improved the lives of thousands of adults through physical activity, we are excited to have a visionary and activist of his stature share his perspective with our community.”

Founded in 1979, Fifty-Plus Lifelong Fitness is committed to providing adults of all ages with the tools, education, motivation and the support they need to maximize good health and longevity through physical fitness and to enable them to share their knowledge with others. The organization hosts a variety of activities and educational events throughout the country. Details can be found at www.50plus.org. Admission to the Weekend festivities ranges from $10-$45.

Those interested in sponsoring or attending this event, please call 650 361-8282 or email info@50plus.org.

***********

Media Information Vic Befera: 650 328-3936

John Robbins Press Release in .doc format