Company continues annual scholarships for
America's youth who give back to local communities and
promote kindness and belonging
Ismail B. and LaMyah W. from Boys & Girls
Clubs of Greater St. Louis – Teen
Center of Excellence receive national scholarships
ST.
LOUIS, Aug. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Planet
Fitness, one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and
operators of fitness centers with more members than any other
fitness brand, today announced it has awarded Ismail B. and LaMyah
W. from St. Louis its annual
Judgement Free Generation® scholarship, which
awards teens for their unwavering commitment to fostering
inclusion, acceptance and kindness in their communities.
Scholarships were awarded to 50 members of Boys & Girls Clubs
across the U.S., in the amount of $5,000 per recipient, with more than half (52
percent) representing first-generation college students.
![(PRNewsfoto/Midwest Fitness Partners) (PRNewsfoto/Midwest Fitness Partners)](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2403943/planet_fitness_logo_Logo.jpg)
Planet Fitness, a long-standing partner to Boys & Girls
Clubs of America, has awarded $250,000 in scholarships this year. Since 2017,
Planet Fitness has awarded more than $1.4
million in scholarships to 280 teens across the country.
Unlike most scholarships that recognize academic or athletic
achievement, the Judgement Free Generation® scholarship
program was created to award the many high school teens whose words
and actions consistently champion kindness, acceptance and
inclusion, attributes that Planet Fitness and Boys & Girls
Clubs of America mutually support and celebrate. Through a
multi-tiered review process, scholarship recipients were selected
based on multiple criteria including a personal essay, staff
recommendation and video submission. Each piece of the submission
helped showcase how participants actively advocate for kindness and
acceptance through the demonstration of Judgement Free values.
During opening remarks at the Summit for America's Youth this
month, Boys & Girls Clubs of America's premier youth advocacy
event in Washington, D.C., Planet
Fitness held an on-stage celebration moment to congratulate the
2024 scholarship winners on their accomplishments. Teens also
received customized swag and a celebratory video message featuring
celebrities, such as Actress Gail
Bean, Planet Fitness team members, and Boys & Girls
Clubs of America staff.
Both Ismail B. and LaMyah W. are shining examples of students
who give back to our local community and promote kindness and
belonging. In Ismail B.'s winning submission, he shares the
importance of advocating for others and, "making sure that everyone
has their own safe space.".
"Our ongoing partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America
is just one of the ways we support younger generations and their
dedication to promoting kindness and belonging," said McCall Gosselin, Planet Fitness' Chief Corporate
Affairs Officer. "As Home of the Judgement Free Zone®,
we are proud to continue uplifting teens who are making a positive
impact in our world."
"We are thrilled to partner with Planet Fitness to empower these
young changemakers who are demonstrating kindness in their
communities," said Chad Hartman,
national vice president of corporate partnerships and engagement at
Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "This support will not only
catalyze their continued impact as they embark on the next chapter
but will also inspire a new generation of youth to create positive
change."
Since joining forces in 2016, together with its franchisees,
members and partners, Planet Fitness has donated more than
$9.5 million to support pro-kindness
initiatives. The Company has pioneered the funding for unique
social-emotional skills development programs for professionals of
Boys & Girls Clubs of America under this initiative. These
programs are grounded in a trauma-informed methodology recognizing
the effects of traumatic experiences on young people while offering
avenues for personal growth and development. The Company has also
participated in volunteering activities and has established Mini
Judgement Free Zones® in select Boys & Girls Clubs
across the nation.
Learn more about Planet Fitness' efforts to enhance the
communities where people live, work and workout through PF
Purpose.
About Planet Fitness
Founded in 1992 in Dover, NH,
Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing
franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the world by number
of members and locations. As of March 31,
2024, Planet Fitness had approximately 19.6 million members
and 2,599 stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, Panama, Mexico and Australia. The Company's mission is to enhance
people's lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience in a
welcoming, non-intimidating environment, which we call the
Judgement Free Zone®. More than 90% of Planet Fitness
stores are owned and operated by independent business men and
women.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than
160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has
provided a safe place for kids and teens to learn and grow. Clubs
offer caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact
youth development programs on a daily basis during critical
non-school hours. Boys & Girls Clubs programming promotes
academic success, good character and leadership, and healthy
lifestyles. Over 5,400 Clubs serve more than 3 million young people
through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located
in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the
country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth
Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. The national
headquarters is located in Atlanta. Learn more about Boys & Girls
Clubs of America on Facebook and X.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/planet-fitness-awards-250-000-in-scholarships-to-50-boys--girls-clubs-of-america-teens-in-support-of-its-judgement-free-generation-initiative-302212688.html
SOURCE Planet Fitness Midwest