WellWithAll Honors Advocate in Fight Against Maternal Mortality

BOSTON, April 23, 2026 – Health and wellness company WellWithAll is set to present its inaugural Longevity Award to Charles Johnson, a leading advocate for maternal health, at the 2026 The Black Man Can Awards in New York City this weekend. The partnership highlights a growing movement where corporate strategy, community leadership, and personal tragedy converge to confront one of America's most persistent health crises.

WellWithAll, a company built on a model of reinvesting profits into health equity initiatives, will also contribute $15,000 to The Black Man Can, a non-profit dedicated to empowering Black men and boys. The award, however, is the centerpiece of the collaboration, redefining "longevity" not as the length of one's life, but as the fight to ensure families have the chance to live healthy, full lives together.

A Father's Fight For Every Mother

The recipient of the inaugural Longevity Award, Charles Johnson, has turned profound personal loss into a national force for change. In 2016, his wife, Kira Johnson, died from internal hemorrhaging just hours after giving birth to their second son. Her death was later deemed preventable, a result of a more than 10-hour delay in critical care despite clear warning signs and desperate pleas from her family.

In the wake of this tragedy, Johnson founded 4Kira4Moms, a non-profit that has become a pivotal voice in the battle against maternal mortality. His advocacy goes beyond raising awareness; it targets the systemic failures and implicit biases that lead to such devastating outcomes. Johnson has testified before the U.S. Congress on multiple occasions, and his relentless work was instrumental in the passage of the 2018 Preventing Maternal Deaths Act, the first piece of federal legislation to directly address the crisis. He continues to champion the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, a comprehensive suite of bills aimed at tackling the issue from multiple angles.

The award from WellWithAll recognizes Johnson's success in transforming his grief into a movement that empowers families with knowledge, advocates for policy change, and demands accountability from the healthcare system. The work of 4Kira4Moms, and its companion initiative 4Kira4Dads, provides direct support to families impacted by maternal loss and pushes for systemic reforms, including implicit bias training for medical professionals.

“Every mother deserves to make it home,” said Demond Martin, CEO of WellWithAll, in a statement. “The Black Man Can Awards elevate leaders who are driving real impact, and Charles Johnson’s work through 4Kira4Moms is a powerful example. Charles’ leadership has brought critical attention to the maternal health crisis and the need for better systems of care.”

The Unspoken Crisis: Maternal Mortality in Black America

Johnson's advocacy shines a light on a stark and deeply rooted disparity. In the United States, Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. According to recent data, the rate for Black mothers exceeds 50 deaths per 100,000 live births, a figure that starkly contrasts with the 14.5 per 100,000 for their white counterparts.

Health experts stress that this is not a matter of genetics or socioeconomic status alone; even college-educated Black mothers face a higher mortality risk than white mothers without a high school diploma. The root causes are complex and systemic, including chronic stress from racism, underfunded hospitals in Black communities, and, critically, the prevalence of implicit bias in clinical settings. Patients of color frequently report that their pain and concerns are dismissed, leading to delayed or inadequate treatment. Compounding the issue, studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have concluded that over 80% of these maternal deaths are preventable.

The work of advocates like Johnson and organizations like WellWithAll aims to dismantle these structures, pushing for policies like expanded postpartum Medicaid coverage and mandating the kind of bias training that could have saved Kira Johnson's life.

Blending Commerce with Conscience

For WellWithAll, the partnership is a direct extension of its foundational mission. Co-founded by investor and philanthropist Demond Martin and Carmichael Roberts, the company operates as a purpose-driven consumer packaged goods entity, embedding social impact directly into its business model.

The company has publicly committed to reinvesting 20 percent of its profits into its foundation, which funds programs designed to close health gaps in underserved communities. This model moves beyond traditional corporate philanthropy, creating a self-sustaining engine for change fueled by the sale of its functional consumer products.

This commitment is most visibly demonstrated through initiatives like the $1 million WellWithAll Prize Competition. The national competition is designed to identify and scale proven AI-powered technologies that help people in underserved communities manage their health, improve health literacy, and navigate the complexities of the care system. By focusing on solutions for maternal, mental, and heart health, the prize aims to foster innovation where it is most urgently needed.

A Convergence of Influence

WellWithAll’s strategy hinges on building a powerful ecosystem of partners to amplify its message and impact. The collaboration with The Black Man Can, an organization that has spent over 15 years reshaping the narrative around Black men and boys through mentorship and media, provides a culturally resonant platform to celebrate leaders like Johnson.

Further strengthening this coalition is the recent addition of NBA All-Star Donovan Mitchell, who has joined WellWithAll not merely as a celebrity endorser but as a strategic investor and brand ambassador. Mitchell's involvement is centered on a shared mission to expand access to wellness resources, particularly for younger audiences and communities often left behind. His role will involve collaborating on health equity initiatives, reinforcing the idea that wellness should be a right, not a privilege.

This convergence of commerce, community advocacy, and celebrity influence creates a multi-pronged approach to tackling deep-seated health inequities. By honoring the past work of advocates like Charles Johnson while investing in future technological solutions and leveraging influential voices, the company aims to build a sustainable framework for change.

“We believe longevity should not be a privilege, but a reality for everyone,” Martin added. “We’re proud to support the people and organizations doing the work every day to build healthier communities and create lasting change.”