From his earliest years as a Cub Scout and Boy Scout, Robert learned about volunteering his free time to assist others, as well as striving to do at least one good deed each day. During the years involved with his scout troop, he participated in many ‘camporees’, including those in Mexico which first exposed him to the culture of another nation.

However, Robert’s youth was not as carefree as most of his classmates. Starting at the age of 9, he was an apprentice to his father who owned a tool and die company. Working side by side with members of his family, he learned the skills necessary to become a machinist, maintenance engineer, and tool and die maker. Robert then went on to become supervisor of the shop. His duties also involved customer relations and certain aspects of purchasing as well. Later, in the mid-80’s, Robert completed formal coursework in Machine Technology at El Camino College in Torrance, CA. Eventually, he ran the entire business, even after it was sold to another owner.

At the age of 18, Robert sought to expand his horizons, and began to work seasonally for the U.S. Forest Service as a firefighter in the San Bernardino National Forest. He eventually moved to Oregon where he worked in the Rogue River Natural Forest. Operating under the most harshest environmental conditions, he both served as a firefighter as well as a wildlife field biologist. During his service with the Forest Service, Robert gained a profound respect for the natural environment. Later in life, he would participate in programs that studied the Great Gray Owl in an effort to avoid destruction of their habitat due to timber harvesting. He also engaged in reforestation of burned areas, and participated in programs that promoted wildlife habitat renewal.

Robert next sought a challenge in a new profession. His quest led him to employment in the construction trades where he received on-the-job training as a general laborer and, eventually earned promotion to foreman. As a union member he worked on many earthquake retrofit projects in Southern California that included buildings on the U.S.C. and U.C.L.A. campuses, as well as post offices and other government buildings. He also served as a foreman during construction of the Mission Viejo Medical Center and the central U.S. Federal Building in Los Angeles.

But Robert’s drive for personal challenges extended far beyond his vocations. During the late 80’s through the early 90’s, Robert engaged in pro speedway racing on the dirt track circuit in Southern California. He was also a World Cup Speedway Motorcycle Ice Racing Professional, and competed in the World Cup Series in 1993 with several world class speedway professionals from around the globe.

During his mid-twenties, Robert acquired a new set of skills when he secured employment with the 3M Corporation. Starting as a temporary worker, and eventually being hired as a full time employee, his duties led him to a top position on the Coating Crew. This required training in Hazardous Materials handling, and also made use of his previous skills as a firefighter. At 3M, Robert joined the safety committee where he brought about changes in the plant that helped protect the workers. He also became an Ergonomics Specialist, and instituted changes to workplace procedures in addition to initiating the redesign of certain machinery. His work was instrumental in helping improve the plant’s safety record as well as helping the employees avoid repetitive motion injuries.

He next started his own company in which he was hired by trucking companies to coordinate and ‘pilot’ the transportation of oversize loads across the country. This included Boeing Missiles, Fire Boat Fleets, and large equipment such as transformers. As you can tell from the eclectic skills and professions Robert was acquiring throughout his life, he was prepared to take on any challenge.

But Robert never let his professional life interfere with continuing service to his community. In Jackson County, Oregon, he served as a volunteer with the Sheriff’s Department. He took an active role in Search and Rescue missions to find lost children and campers. He also engaged in swift water rescues, as well as assisted in work involving homicide investigations.

Besides offering his assistance to his community, family emergencies also necessitated that Robert be a caregiver for Father and Mother, as well as to a close personal friend. Although his care-giving was often a great struggle, Robert saw this service as an honor and privilege. It also opened his eyes to the needs of many people with disabilities, severe medical conditions, poor health and diet, as well as those who lacked knowledge about health problems in many areas of the world.

While assisting his Mother with the physical therapy required as a result of her stroke, Robert saw the need for a device that would aid his Mother and other stroke victims. The innovative new product he fabricated, along with his vision to assist those with disabilities, led him to become the founder and president of the R K Froom & Co…a medical device manufacturing corporation. His company designs and produces stroke rehabilitation devices as well as home health care items for the healthcare medical industry.

Robert’s compassion is not limited to just certain endeavors, but also extends to a world-wide consciousness. In an effort to assist those in need, he traveled with the St. Cross Church Missionary to the country of Belize in Latin America. There, he worked in the community of Selena, building houses and teaching English As A Second Language (ESL).

Because he saw, first hand, the tremendous poverty of third world nations, Robert was driven to start 4 The World… a nonprofit outreach organization dedicated to helping people suffering from poverty and poor health conditions in many areas of the globe. The mission of 4 The World is to assist impoverished people by providing volunteers, mentors, teachers, visionaries, problem solvers, and friends to those in foreign countries, as well as to Native American tribes in the United States. They also seek to improve the overall health, education, and living conditions of those affected by homelessness, hunger, and natural disasters.

Among other projects, 4 The World has recently completed a feeding center in Belize that will enable the school children of the village to have a lunch during the day. The many personal attributes acquired during Robert Froom’s life, including initiative, leadership, and altruism, as well as the vital construction skills learned as a laborer and foreman, all helped make this project possible.

The work of 4 The World’s Executive Director, Robert Keith Froom is just beginning. To learn more of his vision and current projects, Robert invites you to visit his organization’s website at www.4theworld.org. To contact Robert Froom, he can be reached by email or by calling toll free at (866) 883-7666; or by writing to 4 the World, P.O. Box 426, Gardena, CA 90248.