Planet Fitness and its Franchisees Award $50,000 in Inaugural Judgement Free Generation Scholarship Program

USA - English

• USA - English

HAMPTON, N.H., July 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Planet Fitness, Inc., one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the United States, today announced it has awarded 10 deserving high school students nationwide as the recipients of its inaugural Judgement Free Generation™ Scholarship Program. As the home of the Judgement Free Zone®, Planet Fitness seeks to recognize young people who have promoted kindness, acceptance and inclusion in their communities, qualities that Planet Fitness and its charitable partner, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, strongly support. As part of the program, each scholarship recipient will receive $5,000 toward their college education.

Applications were submitted from Boys & Girls Club youth throughout the country and the 10 winners were evaluated using the following criteria: demonstrated the values of kindness, acceptance, respect and tolerance; submitted a personal video, and information about extracurricular activities, career and educational aspirations, and academic performance.

"As part of Planet Fitness' Judgement Free Generation initiative, we want to empower the next generation to grow up contributing to a more judgement free society and our winners reflect this mission, embodying and promoting our shared values," said Chris Rondeau, Planet Fitness' Chief Executive Officer. "While most scholarship programs recognize students for academic or athletic abilities, we believe it's important to also recognize youth for their commitment to making their communities kinder, more accepting places where everyone can feel respected and like they belong."

Planet Fitness was recently honored with Engage for Good's (formerly Cause Marketing Forum) 2017 Gold Halo Award for the Social Services category for The Judgement Free Generation initiative. Launched in 2016, The Judgement Free Generation aims to spread kindness and prevent bullying in the afterschool setting. To accomplish this, Planet Fitness has partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the nation's leading youth development organization supporting millions of kids and teens during the critical out-of-school time, and STOMP Out Bullying™ the leading anti-bullying organization for kids and teens in the U.S. Planet Fitness and its franchisees have donated more than $1.5 million to its charitable partners in support of this cause, have funded evidence-based training for Boys & Girls Clubs professionals and teen leaders to help create judgement free environments in their Clubs, and have launched the first of a series of Mini Judgement Free Zones, which are welcoming gym spaces in local Boys & Girls Clubs.

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 March 31, 2017, Planet Fitness had approximately 10 million members and more than 1,300 stores in 48 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 95% of Planet Fitness stores are owned and operated by independent business men and women.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 150 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,300 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people annually 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. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at http://www.bgca.org/facebook and http://bgca.org/twitter.

SOURCE Planet Fitness, Inc.

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