Julia Sanders

The holiday season in Newnan, Georgia, was brought to life with festive cheer as the community gathered for the Annual City of Newnan Christmas Parade on Dec. 14. Among the 109 groups who participated in the parade, Flynn Group stood out as one of the parade participants with their creative and vibrant participation.

The franchise group had a Rudolph-themed car, which was decorated with sparkling lights. The lights twinkled as the car rolled through the streets, spreading holiday cheer to onlookers of all ages. Flynn Group staff members handed out candy canes to parade attendees. They also distributed purple and yellow glow sticks, ensuring that Planet Fitness^®’ involvement with the local community would shine brightly in people’s minds. The glow sticks illuminated the parade route, providing families and children a fun, PF^®-colored souvenir to take home.

Flynn Group’s involvement in the parade helped elevate the event, making it an unforgettable experience for those who attended. Additionally, the franchise group’s participation helped bring awareness and excitement to Planet Fitness, ahead of Flynn’s grand opening of a new club in the town on Jan. 22.

“This was a great community event and a fun way to bring awareness to our new location opening in Newnan. The turnout was amazing, and everyone was very excited to hear that a Planet Fitness was coming to the area,” said Senior Regional Manager at Flynn Group Tiffany Key.

Many Atlanta and Georgian natives struggle with food insecurity. In fact, 1 in 8 people are food insecure in the state, according to the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s website. This figure hits close to home for Flynn Group, which has 33 locations in Georgia and seven in Atlanta.

In November, 10 staff members at Flynn Group took time to give back to its local community by lending a hand at the Atlanta Food Bank, which fights hunger in Atlanta and north Georgia by collecting and distributing donated food and goods. Due to the group’s acts of kindness, it was able to provide 4,819 pounds of food – the equivalent of 4,016 meals for families and individuals facing hunger. The group would love to volunteer at the food bank again, as it was a rewarding experience for the team.  

“Our team had an incredible time making a difference volunteering at the Atlanta Food Bank. Team members from our area locations came together to lend a hand and the energy was electric, as we sorted and packed food for those in need. It was a fulfilling experience that reminded us of the power community and the joy of giving back,” said Director of Training & Development at Flynn Group Timothy Morrissette.

Planet Fitness^® franchisees care not only for its members but also for its furry friends in the local community. Throughout the month of December, Excel Fitness’ team in Draper, Utah, organized a pet supply donation drive, in which items were donated to the Humane Society of Utah.

The drive was met with overwhelming support from members, who generously donated items for the cause. Donations collected included cat food, dog food, treats, blankets, towels, cat toys, dog toys and even puzzles for staff. In total, about 14-20 bags of supplies were collected and donated, not including five 50-pound bags of food.

The Humane Society of Utah is a private 501(c)3 nonprofit animal welfare organization, which helps over 11,000 cats, dogs, rabbits and other small animals in need of loving homes each year. The organization works hard to provide loving care for the animals in need of homes. The animal shelter prides itself on being a no-kill shelter. Thanks to Excel’s pet supply drive, the humane society was able to provide even better care for its animals in need.