The Christmas Sweater (15 page)

I
find that every time I try to write acknowledgments for a book, I end up feeling
just like my mother must’ve felt that Christmas morning when I left my sweater in
a ball on the floor. I always hope not to disappoint, but I know that I always will.
As soon as I send this off to my publisher, more faces and names that I’d somehow
forgotten inevitably will come to mind.

In some ways I guess it’s a good problem to have. It’s a healthy reminder that I am
on the other side of my storm only because of all the amazing friends who’ve helped
me
along the way. It’s also a reminder that I play a very small role in my own success.

Thank you all for giving me the second greatest gifts there are: your trust, friendship,
support, and, most important, your love.

Tania Beck

My children

All my parents

Claire McCabe

Pat Gray

Robert and Colleen Shelton

Roy Klingler and Family

Michelle Gray

Coletta Maier and Family

Jeff Chilson

David and Joanne Bauer

Jeremy and Makell Boyd

Bobby Dreese

Bruce Kelly

Jim Lago

Carma Sutherland

Robert and Juaniece Howell

Jon Huntsman

Bill Thomas

David Neeleman

Jaxson Hunter

Gary and Cathy Crittenden

My home ward

All my friends in Sumner, WA

Chris Balfe

Kevin Balfe

Stu Burguiere

Adam Clarke

Dan Andros

Rich Bonn

Liz Julis

Carolyn Polke

Joe Kerry

John Carney

Sarah Sullivan

Jeremy Price

Christina Guastella

Kelly Thompson

Kristyn Ort

Chris Brady

Nick Daley

Pat Balfe

Eric Chase

Conway Cliff

Virginia Leahy

John Bobey

My television and radio crews

My floor and makeup crew

Mark Mays

John Hogan

Charlie Rahilly

Dan Yukelson

Dan Metter

Julie Talbott

Gabe Hobbs

Kraig Kitchin

Brian Glicklich

George Hiltzik

Matthew Hiltzik

Dom Theodore

Carolyn Reidy

Louise Burke

Mitchell Ivers

Sheri Dew

Duane Ward

Joel Cheatwood

Jim Walton

Ken Jautz

Josanne Lopez

Lori Mooney

Greg Noack

The listeners, viewers, and readers

The insiders

City Bakery (1898–2006)

Richard Paul Evans

Jason Wright

Marcus Luttrell

Greg and Donna Stube

Paul and Angel Harvey

Thomas S. Monson

Russell Ballard

Neil Cavuto

Anderson Cooper

Brad Thor

Don Brenner

Albert Ahronheim

David Marcucci

Blake Ragghianti

Anthony Newett

I
n
The Christmas Sweater,
Eddie’s trials begin when his father succumbs to cancer. I didn’t select that disease
by accident. Almost all of us know someone who has been affected by it in some way,
and I am no different; my grandfather had cancer. But I chose cancer for another reason
as well—because of someone who I believe will cure it.

His name is Jon Huntsman, and I consider him a role model, an inspiration, and a friend.

Mr. Huntsman grew up in a two-room house with cardboard walls and outdoor plumbing.
His family strug
gled for every penny they made and every bite of food they ate. But now, decades later,
he’s traded in that two-room shack for a spot on the Forbes 400 list. Mr. Huntsman
is a billionaire.

While he may not be a household name, the products he’s dreamed up over the years
have changed the way we live. From the first Big Mac containers to egg cartons, to
plastic bowls, dishes, and forks, Huntsman Chemical went from nothing to the largest
privately held chemical company in the world.

But Jon Huntsman isn’t an inspiration to me because of the amazing things his company
has produced or how much money he’s made. He’s an inspiration for how much he’s giving
away: all of it.

Though involved in many charities, Mr. Huntsman’s passion is the Huntsman Cancer Institute
and Hospital that he founded in Salt Lake City. It’s a place where patients are treated
like family, and family members of patients are treated like royalty. But more important,
it’s a place where everyone is treated with love and respect—two things that are in
short supply these days.

When I visited the institute for the first time, I told Mr. Huntsman that I’d never
seen anything like it before. “I know,” he replied, obviously used to hearing that
kind of reaction. “We’re going to cure cancer and then we’re going to turn this place
into a Ritz Carlton.”

He smiled, and I wasn’t sure if he was kidding or not. Then he looked at me with zeal
in his eyes and determination on his face. “Glenn,” he said firmly and without an
ounce of hesitation, “we
are
going to cure cancer here.” It wasn’t what he said but how he said it—humble, almost
casual, yet full of fierce and overwhelming confidence.

I believe him.

If your own success in life has made you fortunate enough to be able to help others,
then please consider taking a look at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Read about their
mission and their facility, but, above all, read about Jon Huntsman, a self-made billionaire
who intends to die penniless in the service of others. He is someone who has accomplished
almost everything he has ever set his mind to, and I know he will accomplish that
as well.

Mr. Huntsman has given away more than $1.2 billion
in the last decade. Yet no matter how broke he is when he eventually passes on, he
will always be a living example of Russell. And he will always be the richest man
I’ve ever met.

—Glenn

For more information, please visit

www.huntsmanscancerfoundation.org.