ABOUT US
Arthur Renowitzky founded the Life Goes On Foundation (LGO) in 2007 with a mission to help people overcome challenges by spreading a positive message through our speaker series, hospital care packages, adaptive sports and an initiative for spinal cord injury awareness to find a cure.
We were created to provide SCI survivors and their families with support to aide in the life-long process towards recovery. Life Goes on Foundation is a non-political, non-profit organization working nationally to advance the personal independence and wellness of individuals living with disabilities.
We welcome people of all backgrounds, races and histories to join with no judgment. We are seeking help from people who are demanding a change in today’s current society. LGO takes an aggressive approach to solving this issue by promoting a positive lifestyle to keep it pushing, living life passionately and through developing skills to gain self independence. With the support of people like you, we can continue to improve the quality of life to those in need in our communities.
By becoming a part of Team LGO you will change the way the world and you view spinal cord injuries and the effects that it can have on daily life. This injury continues to impact many of our friends and loved ones and will continue to bring pain to families.
So, how will you get involved?
1. Put on the LGO Gear and become a part of something bigger. Shop here!
2. Join us in any of our lectures, events or volunteering and help us spread our message of positivity across the world.
3. Donate to support the cause. Click the link at the bottom of this page or click here!
It doesn’t matter how you choose to get involved, everything we do together makes a difference!
Arthur Renowitzky founded LGO in 2007 after he was shot in the chest outside a San Francisco night club by an unknown assailant, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. The shooter stole $20 dollars from Arthur and was never found. After a 23-day battle in a medically induced coma, Renowitzky woke on Christmas Eve day to learn he would never walk or talk again. That news inspired him to fight paralysis by spreading spinal cord injury awareness and gave him the “line in the sand” against youth violence; Renowitzky knew the best route was to create his nonprofit, LGO, and aggressively spread his message of overcoming adversity.
In recognition of his work, Renowitzky was named a Home Town hero by the Bay Area News Group for the summer of 2009 and also received a citation of appreciation from the Oakland Mayoral Council Against Violence that same year. Arthur has been featured sharing LGO on media outlets such as ABC Los Angeles, KTVU Bay Area, CNN, Hot Talk New Radio 560, Daily Review, Oakland Tribune, Chronicle Live.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF
Renowitzky has also presented his story to over 130 California high schools and middle schools, as well as juvenile halls, disciplinary camps, Boys & Girls Club(s), YMCA(s), Oakland City Hall, Hollywood events, churches, and many hospitals and rehabilitation facilities, reaching an estimated 100,000+ youth.
Additionally, Renowitzky plays for the BORP All Stars a Bay Area wheelchair basketball team. He credits wheelchair basketball for bringing him out of his depression from the shooting. One day after a hand cycling experience, he met with a wheelchair basketball coach and found a new passion, strength, and confidence. Now he shares his love for basketball when he coaches for the Boys and Girls Club, Boys basketball team the Junior Warriors (pictured left) in San Leandro.
Arthur doesn’t stand alone, he is supported by his mother Michelle and two brothers Anthony and Andrew who have supported his recovery and rise to be the person with the desire to change the world, one person at a time.
Hong Thach
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Board President
Born in Hong Kong, raised in Oakland, and proud graduate from Cal State East Bay! “I am proud to have come up through Oakland public schools, and graduating from Oakland High. Working for the Reading Partners is my chance to realize my dream of tying my career to roots, of giving back to the community where I grew up riding the BART from west to deep east, and attending the very schools I am working to support today. I'm grateful to be a part of an amazing LGO Foundation in which I'm able to uplift our younger generation in the community. When not at work, I love spending time with my family, traveling, and eating out or cheering on my favorite sports team the Golden State Warriors.”
Howard Nathel
Board Member
Howard has been sharing his enthusiasm for outdoor activities and science with children in Oakland for over a dozen years through his volunteer work with the Office of Parks and Recreation and Youth Development, nonprofit running training organizations and OUSD. He has been a volunteer and an active board and advisory member of several bay area nonprofits. Howard has a B.A. from Cornell University, a PhD. from U.C. Berkeley and was on the staff of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Caheri Gutierrez
Board Member and Advocacy Director
Caheri Gutierrez, a proud Oakland native, began her career in community organizing when she was 9 years old. Through her movement building and advocacy she, along with other community members were able to successfully establish an elementary school in the Fruitvale district that was aimed at closing the achievement gap for Black and Brown kids while establishing a college-going culture. The school was named Think College Now and has been recognized across California for academic success.
In addition, she has led violence prevention advocacy work in Washington D.C., which has resulted in successful community based funding. Caheri has worked alongside the Oakland Mayor to inform her Education policy, and was responsible for developing the equity-based community engagement infrastructure for the Oakland Promise. Caheri also led Communications for the executive team of the Oakland Promise in efforts to expand community footprint and raise programmatic awareness.
“I am thrilled to be joining The Unity Council family as my principles 100% align with our mission, vision, and values. I’m also excited about the opportunity to grandly scale our impact and focus on holistically advancing our communities from Affordable Housing and Development, Small Business support, Employment services, COVID-19 relief, Early Childhood Education, Youth Services, resources for Undocumented Californians and more! Here’s to building a Resilient Oakland, a Resilient Fruitvale, a Resilient California, and beyond.”
Bryant Hicks
Program Director for Teens
Bryant Hicks is a community activist and motivational speaker who has been working with Bay Area youth in our community for the last two decades. He is always trying to find the good in people and help them be the best version of themselves that they can be. He believes comedy and laughter can heal almost anything and brings that energy everytime he is performing as a standup comic or other speaking engagements. He's given his time and commitment over the years to Playworks, Boys and Girls club of America and now as an SEL therapist for the Palo Alto school district. He's been with LGO Foundation for over a decade, now helping coordinate and lead our Teen Leadership Program.
Britt Burkett
Board Member and Partnership Coordinator
Britt Burkett entered her first season as the Generation Thrive Coordinator for the Warriors Community Foundation after working with the Golden State Warriors Community Relations department since 2019. Before her time with the Warriors, Britt worked for the 49ers Foundation and the San Francisco 49ers Community Relations department. Britt’s experience spans the nonprofit sector, and she’s focused on sports, girls' and women’s empowerment, and hunger relief. Britt’s passions in the community space are rooted in equity, systems-impacted youth, and mental health. Britt studied Sociology at Santa Clara University, where she graduated in 2012 and, in 2015, received her Master's in Sport Management from the University of San Francisco. As a Bay Area native and product of the public education system, Britt is passionate about deepening her impact and philanthropic efforts in local communities and believes that all people deserve empowerment and access to unlock their greatest potential.
Akash Kumar
Media and Technology Technician
Akash Kumar has been working for the Life Goes On Foundation for over 10 years now. He has helped to design and maintain all of the Foundation's media and technology. When Akash originally joined LGO, he was unemployed and aimless with a passion for the film industry. A Bay Area native, Akash was given an opportunity to help Arthur and his mission to make the world a better place for everyone. The teachings of the Life Goes On Foundation motivated Akash to continue to pursue his dreams and it led him to returning to school and eventually finding a career in the film industry with Lucasfilm. As an optimist and believer in the power of people, there was no greater feeling than being able to find support in your community to develop your identity and purpose.
Bailey Ferreira
Lead Teen Mentor
Bailey Ferreira, is a Bay Area native and senior at the University of California at Davis pursuing a degree in Organizational Studies with a minor in Contemporary Leadership. While pursuing her degree, she works as a Youth Development Professional at the Boys and Girls Club of San Leandro at Bancroft middle school. She has worked at Chabot College in the Transfer Center helping her peers pursue the next step in their education and partnered with the San Leandro Rotary club to do service work with Educate2Envision in Honduras. Whether abroad or locally Bailey has dedicated herself to improving the lives and educational opportunities of the youth. She led the LGO Teen Leadership Program through the 2020 pandemic on zoom and recently in person with the 6 week teen summer series leadership workshop.
Neal Ram
Board Member and Community Engagement
Neal Ram has been with LGO for almost a decade now. He has a huge passion for Community Outreach and believes in impacting others through love & the acts of kindness. He believes in moving through life with a positive mindset and practicing gratitude through the good, and the bad days. In addition to LGO, Neal has also volunteered for other non profits such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Bridgewatch Angels and Drivers For Survivors where he has completed over 80 rides for ambulatory cancer patients. Neal also has a huge passion for health and wellness and has recently began helping people achieve a healthier lifestyle through nutritional and fitness coaching.
Kelechi Osemele
Board Member and Community Engagement
9-year NFL veteran, a Super Bowl champion, and an ALL-PRO offensive lineman. Kelechi attended Iowa State University where he attained his bachelor's degree, was voted Team Captain by his peers and earned multiple Academic All-American honors as well as All-America honors for his performance in the classroom and on the field. His strengths are leadership, teamwork, public speaking, writing, and effective communication.