Julia Sanders

This Halloween season, the spirit of fun and fitness came together as the community swapped candy for cardio. United Fitness Partners hosted its second annual Spooky Fun Run on Oct. 25 to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley.

The family-friendly event included a 5K and Kids Dash, bringing together the community for a day of fitness, spooky vibes and philanthropy. Nearly 500 participants joined the start line of the race, many dressed in creative Halloween costumes ranging from spooky creatures to cute characters. Proceeds from the race helped support the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley in Phoenix, Arizona. Also in attendance were mascots of the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball, Arizona Cardinals football and Phoenix Suns basketball teams, as well as of the Cardinals’ cheerleaders.

United Fitness Partners was not just the host of the race event but also encouraged local kids to get involved with the race festivities. The staff from several of UFP’s clubs went to a local Boys & Girls Club in advance of the race to paint signs with the kids. These signs were later used during the race to cheer on the runners.

District Manager of UFP Amber Earl McKinney and Club Manager Veronica Botello both ran in the race, while other staff members came out to support and celebrate at the finish line. The race showed Planet Fitness^®’ commitment to giving back to the BGCA, as well as the brand’s focus on fostering a Judgement Free Zone^®, both inside the club and outside the club in the local communities it serves. Overall, the event was a frightening success, supporting PF^®’s mission and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Equipment donations can be incredibly helpful for different organizations, as fitness equipment is expensive and unused equipment often goes unplaced. In July, United Fitness Partners generously donated fitness equipment to Kingsbury High School in Memphis, Tennessee.

UFP’s donation included 13 treadmills, eight ellipticals, two pieces of ab equipment and an arc trainer. The donation helped fill the room for the school’s new Health and Wellness Center, which opened on the first day of school on Aug. 4. The donation positively impacted a huge number of students and staff, as the school has about 1,330 students and 78 teachers.

United Fitness Partners was honored to give back and help the community on a deeper level, providing an investment in the long-term well-being of the school’s staff and students.

“This center holds a mission we deeply admire, as ensuring the mental and physical health of Kingsbury’s dedicated teachers and staff remains a top priority. We believe that supporting those who educate and shape our future is one of the most vital forms of community service,” said Bri Hawkins, UFP’s Memphis (Midtown) club manager.

Fire departments are crucial for emergency response, helping extinguish fires, save lives and property, rescue people from traffic collisions and provide emergency medical services. Every day, firefighters must use strength and endurance to complete the demands of their job. This means they must work out often to stay fit.

Taymax Group helped its local heroes at the Lytle Fire Department in Lytle, Texas, to stay in shape by donating flooring, cardio and strength equipment to the group of firefighters. The generous donation will allow the firefighters to stay strong and be ready for anything they may run into at their jobs. The equipment was available through local re-equips Taymax was doing. The donated equipment included a treadmill, stair mill, bike, dumbbell rack with weights, barbell rack with weights, beauty bells and three adjustable benches.

The Lytle Fire Department was appreciative of the donation. “We thank you very much for your donation to our organization. We are very grateful,” said Angelo Stafford, volunteer firefighter with the agency.