The Founder's Story

The 99 was born from a moment that changed my life forever.

When I was 12 years old, I traveled to St. Louis for a hockey tournament. In the middle of the night, I was hit with an unbearable headache. At the time, nobody knew how serious it really was. After returning home and experiencing another wave of pain, I was rushed to the University of Iowa Hospital, where doctors discovered I was suffering from a life-threatening brain aneurysm.

I underwent emergency surgery that ultimately saved my life.

That experience completely changed the way I saw the world.

It made me realize how fragile life truly is — and how every single day we’re given is a gift from God. More than anything, it made me realize how valuable every single person is to Him.

That became the foundation for The 99.

The name comes from the Parable of the Lost Sheep in Luke 15, where Jesus leaves the 99 to go after the one. The story is a reminder that no person is forgotten, unseen, or too far gone. While the world may overlook people, Jesus never does.

That message is at the core of everything we create.

This brand is more than clothing to me — it’s a reflection of faith, purpose, and the belief that a single encounter with Jesus can change someone’s life forever.

My prayer is that this brand points people back to Jesus — and inspires them to live boldly, love selflessly, and to never be afraid to stand for their faith.