Fitness Industry Roundup: Supporting All Kinds of Kinds

Before we get into how physical activity and the global fitness industry connects people from all walks of life, recognition—and congratulations—are in order.

Snap Fitness Named Best Fitness Franchise

This year’s Global Franchise Awards named Snap Fitness, an IHRSA member, the winner of the Best Fitness Franchise. “It’s an incredible honor to be recognized amongst our peers as one of the top international franchise brands,” said Ty Menzies, Global CEO of Lift Brands, parent brand of Snap Fitness, said in a press release. “This wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of the entire Snap Fitness team that has brought us to this point.” Global Franchise Awards recognize franchise leaders through:

• an analysis of their international presence,

• their strong franchisees support,

• innovative marketing campaigns, and

• an overall willingness to advance franchising on a global scale.

Other fitness franchise winners at this year’s International Franchising Association’s Annual Convention included Xponential Fitness CEO Anthony Geisler, who took home the Contribution to International Franchising Award, and Body Street, headquartered in Berlin, Germany, which received the Regional Champion - Europe award.

See all of this year’s winners.

Crunch Program Provides Military Free Access to Personal Training Fellowship

Active duty military and soon-to-be veterans who want to pursue a career in personal training can now apply to a military-based fellowship and employment placement program, Strengthened by Heroes. Launched by Crunch Fitness, an IHRSA member, the program lasts three to five months and includes free access to educational content and certifications from sponsors and IHRSA members, the National Academy of Sports Medicine and TRX, as well as My Steady Mind, and dotFit. Every Department of Defense facility and Service Academy is tied to the program, thanks to Crunch’s partnership with Transition Overwatch and the Department of Defense SkillBridge. Jim Rowley, CEO of Crunch Worldwide and U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, said, "We value the unique skills and experience that the military community brings, and we could not be more excited to offer this opportunity."

Find out more about Strengthened by Heroes.

Nutrition & Fitness Nonprofit Earns Grant to Assist Formerly Incarcerated Individuals

Established in 2015, the M.A.D.E. (Money, Attitude, Direction, and Education) Institute provides comprehensive programming to help formerly incarcerated people enter the workforce, find housing, develop life skills, and deal with their trauma, reports the Flint Beat. As a formerly incarcerated individual, Leon El-Alamin, founder of the M.A.D.E. Institute, understands the immense struggles people face when returning from the criminal justice system. The two-year, $50,000 grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation allows M.A.D.E. to:

• Teach 30 formerly incarcerated individuals about nutrition, healthy living, and fitness;

• Train and educate eight individuals to become certified personal trainers; and

• Give other individuals the opportunity to receive nutritionist certifications.

“Given the high disease burden and unique educational needs of returning citizens, this project fills an important gap in the support services currently offered to this population,” said Rodlescia Sneed, assistant professor in the division of public health at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.

A similar program, A Second U Foundation, has found a successful regimen for a large majority of participants. After program completion, 93% of A Second U participants maintained consistent employment—with just 2.3% of participants re-offending.

Read the full story.

Gyms Raise Money for Ukrainian Red Cross

Through the end of the month, Müv Fitness, an IHRSA member, will collect donations for the Ukrainian Red Cross. Müv members or non-members, local businesses, and anyone inclined to support the cause can donate funds at any of the four Spokane, WA, locations. “I’m always blown away by the generosity and heart of our members and this community when we have done things like this in the past,” Jeff Carlson, Müv Fitness co-owner, said to 4 News Now. “We got into this business years ago to help people where and when we can, but this extends far beyond the gym walls we work in every day, and these people need our help.”

Carlson and Müv Co-owner Chip Schwerzel are also donating thousands of their own dollars on top of a percentage of new member enrollment fees and proceeds from paid passes and guest fees. Similarly, Dropout Fight Club, a Milwaukee, WI, boxing gym, is also raising funds for the Ukrainian Red Cross, reported TMJ4News.

Support UNICEF’s efforts to help Ukrainian children and families.

Has your health or fitness-related business been featured in the news recently? We want to know! Send a link to any news article or video that highlighted your business to pr@ihrsa.org, and we may include it in a future issue of the Fitness Industry Roundup.