Roberto S. has always excelled at playing sports: He was a standout athlete at Hackensack High School, a football player at East Carolina University, and later a professional arena football player. He then gave back to the community with a 25-year career in the wellness and fitness industry. But for Roberto, the most meaningful work has never been about elite performance. It's about helping people build habits that last.
That philosophy brought him to Holy Name's Center for Healthy Living, where he first collaborated with Director Hilda Ventimiglia on a weight loss initiative that gave Teaneck residents access to weekly weigh-ins, guided nutrition, and personalized workout plans. The experience planted a seed.
"Working with Hilda and seeing what Holy Name was doing for the community got me thinking about other ways we could help people meet their wellness goals," Roberto says.
A New Year, A New Kind of Challenge
In November 2025, Roberto and Hilda reunited, this time partnering with Teaneck's Health Department, to design something fresh: a 12-week "Walk to Wellness" program modeled after the "couch to 5K" events Roberto had run with other clients. It was designed to help people with little or even no physical fitness experience get moving. They launched in early 2026, intentionally timed to meet people where they already were: energized by New Year's resolutions and looking for a way to follow through.
The concept was simple and welcoming by design. No weigh-ins. No pressure. Just movement. That would kickstart healthy habits, he said.
"We just need to get people moving as a community," Roberto explains. "I wanted them to commit to moving each day. This may lead to weight loss, but the goal was to implement good fitness decisions."
One Lap at a Time
Each Sunday morning at 10 a.m., participants gathered at the Richard Rodda Community Center and then walked to Votee Park, which had ample parking, a central location, and a layout that made it easy to track progress. There, Roborto led the group on a few warm-up routines in front of the park's bandshell. Then, he sent them out on the course, adding a little more distance each week. In their first week, participants did one lap around the park. Twelve weeks later, participants were completing 2.75 laps, the equivalent of a full 5K.
Along the way, Roberto stationed himself at key spots on the course, cheering participants on. Fellow trainers joined to support the effort. And during the week, motivational emails and weekly workout plans landed in participants’ inboxes to keep the momentum going between Sundays.
"You Do What You Can Do"
Before the program began, Roberto heard from people who were nervous. They worried they'd be too slow, that they wouldn't be able to keep up, and that a 5K might be out of reach.
His message was clear: Run your own race. "Don't worry if someone else is running,” he said. “It's all about you progressing each week."
And it showed on the course. Runners moved at the front. Walkers set their own pace at the back. Some participants could only complete one lap a week — and that was perfectly fine. Getting out of the house, moving their bodies, and connecting with neighbors was the win. "Along the way, many people made new friends who held them accountable to the weekly walks," Roberto says. The sense of community became as powerful as physical progress.
A Partnership Built on Prevention
For Roberto, the Walk to Wellness program reflects something he deeply admires about Holy Name.
"At Holy Name, they are there for when you need emergency care or have a long-term medical issue. But I'm really impressed by how they are also there to help with preventive measures and build up your wellness so you don't have a long-term medical issue. And that resonates with me because I want to find ways to help people develop healthy habits."
On the final day of the program, Roberto and Hilda were happy to watch participants, ranging in age from 20 to 80, cross the 5K finish line. Many said they planned to keep up with the weekly walks. Roberto plans to collaborate with Holy Name's Center for Healthy Living on future community events.
