Get In Shape For Women Partners With Fonkoze, Empowers Haiti's Poorest Women

NEEDHAM, Mass., Nov. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Get In Shape For Women, a women's fitness franchise that offers small group personal training, has announced a partnership with Fonkoze, Haiti's largest microfinance institution and a global leader in financial inclusion innovation.  Fonkoze's mission is to provide Haitians—primarily women—with the financial and non-financial tools they need to lift their families out of poverty.  During the week of Monday, Nov. 18 through Sunday, Nov. 24, over 90 Get In Shape For Women locations across the country will host a fundraising drive to support Fonkoze and its mission.

"Our missions are very much aligned," said Brian Cook, founder and CEO of Get In Shape For Women. "Both of our organizations strive to empower women and transform their lives by offering invaluable resources and education."

Founded in 1994, Fonkoze works throughout Haiti—reaching the country's poorest and most remote regions—serving more than 60,000 women with microloans and supporting services, including business training, education, and preventative and promotional health care services. A donation of $1,500 can support one woman and her family for an 18-month period as she starts a business and builds her skills, assets and confidence.  

Clients and potential clients of Get In Shape For Women will have the opportunity to donate $25 or more toward Fonkoze's efforts and will receive one complimentary workout session in addition to their current membership package.

Get In Shape For Women empowers women through body transformation in a small group personal training environment where a dedicated trainer works with one to four women at a time. The company's body transformation program—a unique combination of weight training, cardio, supportive nutrition and accountability—is scientifically proven to work. In 2013, Entrepreneur magazine ranked Get In Shape For Women No. 213 out of the top 500 franchises in the U.S. and Inc. magazine ranked the company No. 510 out of the top 5,000 businesses.    

Get In Shape For Women plans to grow 25 percent each year toward its eventual goal of 5,000 franchise locations worldwide. For more information, please visit www.getinshapeforwomen.com.

SOURCE Get In Shape For Women