Lynne Kunins Founder

Entrepreneurial non-profit executive. Founding a non-profit is not for everyone. I grew up in an affluent suburb in New Jersey enjoying the benefits of good food, tennis lessons, trips to the dentist and doctor, safe roads, and a bicycle of my own. I also struggled with school structure, conflicts with family, and risky behavior. Life changed in my twenties through adventure racing with a team of friends. I tried something new: intense outdoor activity with structured goals and a social group (sense of belonging) that was fun and supportive. I learned to challenge myself—to be stronger, fitter, on time, and clear-headed. I started volunteering with a Florida non-profit organization that supported kids of incarcerated parents in the Carver Ranches neighborhood. By this time, I had owned and operated several small businesses and was currently training corporate executives in South Florida through a low ropes team-building course. The volunteer role provided space for me to meet kids/teens that were suffering the hard consequences of social injustice: a parent in prison, difficulty in school, unsafe neighborhoods, no supervised recreation, and a lifetime of junk food or no food. I felt a powerful connection to these kids. I offered team-building games, structured physical activity, experiences with new and healthy foods, a sense of humor and a lot of energy. I saw so much positive development taking place that I had to do more for more kids in similar circumstances. In 2005 I founded the non-profit FLIPANY (Florida Introduces Physical Activity and Nutrition to Youth) with just my checkbook and a lot of passion. FLIPANY is celebrating 16 years of building health equity by bringing health and wellness programs to underserved neighborhoods in Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe, and Palm Beach Counties.