Planet Fitness Builds First Ever "Judgement Free" Fitness Center Within A Boys & Girls Club As Part Of National Anti-Bullying Initiative

The new fitness center was unveiled on September 6 – the first day of school locally in New Hampshire – with Boys & Girls Club of Manchester staff, Club kids and teens, Planet Fitness representatives and Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas. Featuring motivational and inspirational messages on the walls, like "You Belong" and "Judgement Free Zone," and the brand's signature purple and yellow colors and branded equipment, the look and feel is similar to Planet Fitness clubs throughout the country.

The inaugural unveiling is part of the Company's national philanthropic initiative, The Judgement Free Generation™, which launched in March with a $1.3M commitment to Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Stomp Out Bullying to fund pro-kindness and anti-bullying programs nationwide. The movement is designed to combat the judgement and bullying faced by teens and empower a generation of teens to choose kindness and accept and respect one another. The Company and its franchisees plan to construct additional "mini Judgement Free Zones" in local Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the country in the future.

"We are honored to have built the first 'mini Judgement Free Zone' in the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester, not far from where Planet Fitness was founded nearly 25 years ago," said Jessica Correa, Planet Fitness' Senior Vice President of Marketing. "With nearly 1 in 5 teens reporting that they've been bullied, and Boys & Girls Club's desire to teach their kids and teens the importance of living a healthy lifestyle, both physically and emotionally, we are excited to give kids the opportunity to get active in a non-intimidating, safe environment and empower them to be kind and accepting of one another."

"We are grateful to Planet Fitness for solving a critical need for our kids and teens," said Diane Fitzpatrick, Boys & Girls Club of Manchester Chief Executive Officer. "The fitness center allows us to reinforce the importance of living a healthy lifestyle, both physically and emotionally. We are confident that it will make a huge impact on our kids' and teens' overall health and help build their confidence and self-esteem."                                                                                        

About Planet Fitness
Founded in 1992 in Dover, N.H., Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the United States by number of members and locations. As of June 30, 2016, Planet Fitness had more than 8.6 million members and more than 1,200 stores in 47 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada and the Dominican Republic. 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 the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester:
The Manchester Boys Club was incorporated in 1907 and became the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester in 1983. We are one of the 53 original organizations that formed what is now Boys & Girls Clubs of America. From its meager beginnings as reading and recreation rooms, the Manchester Club has grown to include the main Clubhouse at 555 Union Street and two school-based after school sites at Jewett Street and Highland Goffe's Falls Elementary Schools with a focus on academic success, healthy lifestyles and character and leadership development. www.begreatmanchester.org.

Contact
McCall Gosselin or Becky Zirlen, Planet Fitness

McCall Gosselin
Vice President of PR & Communications
603-957-4650
[email protected]

Becky Zirlen
PR Manager
603-294-0567
[email protected]

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SOURCE Planet Fitness

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