Don Hooton

President

Taylor's Story
The Taylor Hooton Foundation (THF) was formed in 2004 in memory of Taylor Hooton, a high school student from Plano, TX. Taylor took his own life on July 15, 2003, just a month after his 17th birthday, as a result of using anabolic steroids.  Taylor’s parents, family and friends founded the organization after learning of the growing number of middle school, high school and college students illegally using and abusing anabolic steroids, Human Growth Hormone, dietary supplements, energy drinks and other Appearance and Performance Enhancing Substances (PEDs).

Taylor’s parents were heartbroken and shocked when Taylor committed suicide. They soon learned that Taylor had been using anabolic steroids in the months leading up to his death. Angered to also learn that virtually no education was available about PED use amongst adolescents and saddened to learn that other members of Taylor’s high school baseball team were also using these drugs, they were called to make a difference so that no other family would walk the same journey as theirs.

Taylor’s dad, Don Sr., was relentless in his pursuit for answers and more information. Just 6 weeks after Taylor’s death, he spoke at Taylor’s high school. Don shared what he had learned from his research and discussions with experts. This information surprised the parents. Don’s sharing of Taylor’s tragedy caught the media’s attention including the Dallas Morning News who covered the program, the NY Times wrote a 2-page story describing what happened to Taylor, and CBS 60 Minutes Interviewed Don. Inspired by Don’s story after watching the 60 Minutes interview, a DEA Agent embarked on a mission to find and take down steroid manufacturers and distributors including the largest steroid operation in the world. The Hootons quickly realized they had exposed a problem that was much larger and more widespread than just the schools of North Texas.

In 2003, Don was one of the experts called to speak in the now infamous Steroids in Baseball Hearings alongside MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, MLB players and other dignitaries. Immediately after those hearings, Selig reached out and offered the support of MLB to help THF grow its education capabilities and reach. Since those hearings, MLB has been THF’s primary source of funding.

With the combination of lack of awareness and education, the Hootons knew they had to fulfill a mission of enlightening the world to the truths about Appearance and Performance Enhancing Substances. Their vision is to eliminate the use of Appearance and Performance Enhancing Substances in American, Canadian and Latin American middle schools, high schools and universities.

What are Appearance and Performance Enhancing Substances, who is using them, and why are THF education programs so critical? These substances are used to improve any form of activity, performance and/or appearance in humans. They are also associated with numerous, potentially serious, physical and psychiatric side effects. While these substances have a long history in athletic performance, studies have found millions of teens are also turning to them to improve their physical appearance.

To share a few statistics, 7% of high school students (males/females, athletes/non-athletes) admit to using anabolic steroids, 21% of Gay and bi-sexual adolescent boys are using, and 85% of high school students have never been talked to about the dangers of these substances.

As the only organization of its kind THF developed ALL ME® Assembly Programs that would focus on educating young people and their adult influencers about PED’s along with providing expert education on Nutrition.
For years, THF delivered programs solely focused on Appearance and Performance Enhancing Substances. In 2016 a sports dietitian was hired to help develop a Nutrition and Dietary Supplement Safety program. While it’s important to educate about the substances we are now able to also provide a food-first solution to achieving physical goals without the use of illegal/ banned substances or drugs.
Outside of education and prevention. It’s important for young people to have role models to look up to. In 2015, THF coined the term ALL ME® as a positive message to youth that they can do anything they want in life without the use of drugs and built an advisory board of high-profile athletes who voluntarily step forward to encourage youth to take the ALL ME® Pledge to live PED free.
In an effort to provide resources, awareness, and information to the masses, THF maintains a content heavy website, social media platforms, newsletters, special events, and produces the ALL ME® Podcast and ALL ME® Power Lunch.

Donald Hooton Jr. is one the most sought after speakers in North America on the subject of Appearance and Performance Enhancing Substances use by youth. Donald serves as President for the Taylor Hooton Foundation which he helped his parents found in 2004, the year following the loss of his younger brother Taylor. Taylor died after using anabolic steroids.
Since joining the organization he has traveled across America speaking directly to several hundred thousand people. During his multi-media presentations, he uses the story of his brother’s personal tragedy to focus attention on this serious topic. Don then puts a spotlight Appearance and Performance Enhancing Substances by raising awareness about the widespread use of dietary supplements, energy drinks, anabolic steroids and HGH by our nation’s youth. He explores the scope of the problem as well as many of its root causes – athletics as well as social and body image reasons. He then examines the drugs that are being sold to our kids. Where do they come from and how easy is it for our kids to acquire them? And just how dangerous are these drugs? Finally, what can we do to stop this growing epidemic?
Here is a sampling of the audiences that Donald has addressed:

o He regularly speaks to tens of thousands of youth from all walks of life across America.
o Students (athletes and non-athletes) in their school auditorium, gym or at sports camps
o Donald has delivered programs for kids in every Major League Ballpark in the US with the sponsorship of Major League Baseball
o Doctors, Law Enforcement Officers, Parents, Coaches Trainings, and Educational Programs for our nations Athletic Trainers
o Donald addresses “adult influencers” on a regular basis

o Groups of superintendents and/or principals
o State Athletic Associations
o Parents Groups

o Donald has appeared many national and international television and radio programs in addition to national print media. For example:

o CBS 60 Minutes
o ESPN (various programs)
o Sports Illustrated
o CBC – Canadian Television
o Local Television Interviews Nationwide
o CNN Business Week