Founders

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The cruise is run by aPlantBasedDiet.org, a 501(c)(3) that has been working on public health education since 2014. Its stated goal is to eradicate non-communicable disease in humans through the six pillars of lifestyle medicine and the six pillars of healthy vegan food. The organization is 100% vegan and relies on tax-deductible donations.

Founder + CFFO (Chief Foodie + Farming Officer)

Human healthspan and longevity, and a radical return to nature.

Mike Young is the Founder of the aPlantBasedDiet.org 501(c)(3) nonprofit, TriangleGrapeVine.org and FloridaGrapeVine.org. aPlantBasedDiet.org has a website full of food and recipe resources, a YouTube channel, local community groups, and live in person outdoor festival events up and down the US East Coast. He is the type of person that is continually in search of improvement and doing the best he can do with everything. Mike has always been a forward thinker, and this has propelled him into leading a whole foods plant-based lifestyle. He believes there is nothing more important to do today than spread the good news of this lifestyle since everyone and everything benefits. Mike is also a Lifestyle Nutritionist at ForeverYoungNutritionCoaching.com with a passion for human health. He is the author of the vBook LIVE to 150, free to read, watch or listen to at LiveTo150.org.

Treasurer + Co-Cruise Director

Lifestyle change that does not exploit animals, and what it did for her own health.

Treasurer of aPlantBasedDiet.org and Co-Cruise Director of the Health Optimization Cruise. Denise began her nonprofit leadership work as the President of her COA. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from Penn State University, with coursework in accounting, statistics and calculus, and a Master of Computer and Information Science from Gannon University. While working on her Master's she taught evening classes at Fortis Institute in Erie, Pennsylvania. Denise worked for Erie Insurance for fifteen years, supporting the financial systems of the Controller Division, and has been a Senior Product Analyst at Freddie Mac since 2014, leading initiatives that help keep families in their homes. Denise began her plant-based journey after Mike encouraged her to read The China Study in 2017. She lost her beloved Aunt and Grandmother to diabetes and watched several family members go through cancer treatments. She is committed to educating people about a healthy lifestyle that does not exploit animals and is better for the environment. Since switching to a Healthy Vegan Food diet, Denise has lost 20 pounds, resumed running, and weighs the same as she did in the eighth grade.