Building a community of connection and hope through NOSOLO
Salve alumni John and Sarah Toracinta’s apparel brand reminds people they don’t have to struggle with mental health issues alone.
By Jana F. Brown
It’s the personal notes that let Sarah Holfelder Toracinta ’13, ’19 (M) and John Toracinta ’21 (MBA) know they’re making an impact.
John recalls an email from a Florida father, who said the message of NOSOLO, the Toracintas’ product line with a purpose, helped him through the loss of his 18-month-old daughter. The man first became aware of the company’s mantra, “you are not alone,” from Tampa Bay Lightning star Victor Hedman, a NOSOLO ambassador, who wore a hat bearing the company’s logo ahead of the 2022 Stanley Cup finals.
“If we’re getting stories like that, it’s exactly what we set out to do,” said John, who co-founded NOSOLO with Sarah in 2021 to shine a spotlight on mental health.
Both Toracintas have dealt with emotional challenges in their own lives. John has lost family members to suicide, while Sarah grew up with a mother who struggled with mental well-being, and shares that she personally battled depression and anxiety as a teenager.
“I didn’t want to be ashamed by it because, even though I have my ups and my downs, it does not define me at the end of the day,” shared Sarah.
Their personal experiences, combined with complementary skills, motivated the couple to create a brand to spark important conversations on the topic. Sarah earned undergraduate degrees in elementary and special education from Salve and returned for a master’s in behavior analysis. She currently works as a board-certified behavior analyst, focusing on adults and children with developmental disabilities. John’s experience is in marketing and product management, promoting a global apparel line for FootJoy.
The seed for NOSOLO was planted on their 2019 honeymoon to Croatia. While exploring the country on a moped, John and Sarah made deep connections with locals, which made them realize the universal nature of mental health challenges.
“We started having these open, honest conversations and realized it doesn’t matter who you are, where you’re from or what you do,” said John. “This whole idea that kindness should be transcendent is something everybody should live by.”
Today, the Toracintas are proud of the progress they’ve made through NOSOLO to offer a platform for discussing and normalizing emotional wellness. Their simple and appealing product designs, featuring positive symbols and affirmations, along with the company logo – an interlocking “N” and “S” that form a chain to represent connection – have caught the attention of notable influencers. Among those who have endorsed the NOSOLO message are NHL players Hedman and Nate Thompson, NFL quarterback Jared Goff, professional snowboarder Natalie Allport and former “Bachelor” Ben Higgins.
“To have these people say, 'I’ve struggled with mental health, but I’m still successful' is a powerful message,” said Sarah.
The Toracintas have also spread the NOSOLO word through partnerships with Salve. Thompson came to campus last fall to speak to the men’s hockey team about the importance of connecting with teammates in times of need. To support the business the couple runs out of their Middletown, Rhode Island, basement (while working full-time and raising their two young boys), NOSOLO also employs student interns from Salve to help with social media, graphic design and market research.
Salve’s global mission of community, harmony and mercy aligns well with the values of the NOSOLO brand. While disseminating emotional capital through its positive refrain, the company also supports the cause through philanthropy, with 20% of profits donated to mental health charities, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and their own recently established NOSOLO Giveback Foundation.
The Toracintas are looking to expand NOSOLO’s impact. Sarah hopes to develop educational programming around mental health, while John wants to pursue more collaborations that amplify the “you are not alone” tagline. Ultimately, the driving force is the couple’s commitment to making a meaningful difference.
“It’s about reaching as many people as possible with an important message,” said Sarah. “We like to say we’re taking action, not just raising awareness. At this point, we all know creating change is about much more than awareness.”
