We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jake Klopfenstein. Check out our conversation below.
Jake, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: When was the last time you felt true joy?
While I would consider myself a happy person, there are some times that I am at my happiest, I guess you could call this ‘true joy.’ When I am doing something with a purpose that benefits people and sometimes myself I am at my happiest. for example, when I workout I am putting effort into being healthy and that makes me happy, its almost theraputic. But when I feel TRUE joy, is when I am getting a kid fighting cancer off their phone or xbox and onto the water or casting in their room.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Jake Klopfenstein, I started a nonprofit called Angling for Relief after experiencing the loss of a friend. Since he was always in the hospital, bored and stressed out, I wanted to make the experience better for kids suffering from the same thing. We decided to use fishing as that escape, since it has always been my passion and therapy. Angling for relief is a nonprofit that does 3 types of events: in hospital visits, paid fishing charters for the whole family, and large scale fishing events at fishing piers or lakes. We have been expanding rapidly over the past year, going from 1 hospital to 4, expanding our reach out of tampa into gainesville, orlando, and St Petersburg. Another part of our expansion is the introduction of the Ambassador program, a way to keep kids (high schoolers) involved in the organization and do MY job in tampa as im in school in tallahasee.
If you need more info on the organization you can check www.anglingforrelief.org or just call me at (813) 465-0516 with any questions.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
This question is easily answered by my Dad and the projects he ‘forced’ me to do. Since I was about 10, every couple of months he has a big project that he wants us to help on, these projects ranged from fixing one of our cars to fixing or installing something in the house or backyard. While I always dreaded these projects I can see that it has put me far ahead of my peers and I am complimented on my work ethic often. I now find myself in engineering school, and I love working on my car with him or talking about some outdoor project.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
As someone in the cancer world, my hardest battles are getting to know a kid and spending a lot of time with them just to see them pass away. The kid that sticks out to me the most is a boy named John, who passed away unexpectedly. I spent about 2 years with him from going to the hospital to fishing trips and just hanging out with him and his family when they’d go somewhere fun. I was absolutely devastated by his loss and it made me want to stop getting to know and become friends with these kids who have a chance of dying. But that experience made me realize how much I need to continue doing this, these families need me as much as I need them. I have learned to accept that if cancer wasn’t deadly and undoubtedly a bad thing there would be no reason for me to do this, while it comes with emotional downsides, the affect casted by Angling for Relief GREATLY outweighs my personal feelings of loss.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
My truth and guiding beacon throughout my life has been to say and do things that are truthful and not sugarcoat things or lie to benefit the person I am talking to. Many people disagree with this and actively tell white lies to people to avoid hurting their feelings, these people sometimes call me harsh or disrespectful when that is the opposite of my intent, I feel that the most respectful thing you can do for someone is tell them the truth, because we live extremely busy lives and might not even notice something we are doing that is harming our image or feeling of self worth, and a quick reminder of that might offend you, but hopefully induces thought and motivates that person to fix a problem and in turn improve themselves as a person. I might seem mean sometimes, but it is because I want those close to me to be lifted up and be the best version of themselves.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I would stop using social media. Constantly seeing others at their peak, doing things that are fun is not great for mental health and offers a false idea of what life should be like. On top of that, scrolling on social media takes up hours of my days, if i had that time back I could learn a skill, call a good friend to catch up, or spend time with family.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.anglingforrelief.org
- Instagram: @Anglingforrelief
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?fetchDeterministicClustersOnly=true&heroEntityKey=urn%3Ali%3Aorganization%3A33460392&keywords=angling%20for%20relief%2C%20corp&origin=RICH_QUERY_SUGGESTION&position=0&searchId=b8c2b38a-1709-45bb-8362-fee93dcd7e87&sid=%2C5i&spellCorrectionEnabled=false
- Facebook: @Anglingforrelief
