by Stephanie TABER
Buffalo-born and raised Phil Haberstro has made physical health a priority
throughout his life. At Brockport College Phil captained both the football and rugby
teams. After graduating, he went on to work for Brockport College; the Buffalo Athletic
Club and Buffalo Fitness Consulting before founding the non-profit Wellness Institute of
Greater Buffalo and Western New York in 1988.
Phil has served our community through leadership roles including National
Chair of the Health Policy Committee Association for Worksite Health Promotion, President
of the New York State Federation of Health Educators and membership in the New York State
Governor’s Council on Lifetime Health and Fitness.
Currently, Phil keeps busy as Chair of the Greater Buffalo All-America
City Committee and the New York State Physical Activity Coalition. He Co-Chairs Vision for
Tomorrow and the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Erie Niagara Region. Phil also serves as the
National Chairperson of the All-America City Alumni.
His heroes? - “Mom and Dad! They provided me all the support and love
a son and my brothers could hope for.”
Phil believes Buffalo will have an exciting future when public, private, non-profit and
civic sectors work together on a regular basis. A healthy “civic infrastructure”
is the key to our regional success.
Stephanie Taber is a freelance writer.