Planet Fitness® strives to be a welcoming and Judgement Free Zone® for those of all fitness levels. Planet Fitness locations provide community members from across the globe with an inclusive and safe environment to work out in. In Barrie, Ontario, community members took notice of how much Planet Fitness has made an impact on their town.
For the second year in a row, Taymax’s Barrie, Ontario, PF® location won the BarrieToday Reader’s Favourite Award for Best in Health & Fitness. The award is meant to recognize the best local businesses across the community in nearly 100 categories, and it allows Barrie community members to share their support for their favorite businesses. Readers were able to vote through Aug. 30 for their favorite businesses on BarrieToday, a popular source for local news.
Taymax’s team worked hard to motivate PF members to vote for the Barrie location. Staff members made signage with QR codes for the club’s lobby and front desk to notify members about voting for the location. The team told their members about the Reader Favourites Award and encouraged them to vote.
The winners in each category not only earned bragging rights, but also received a free premium business profile on BarrieToday, as well as a Reader Favourite window sticker. The award was an indication of how big of a difference Planet Fitness franchisees like Taymax are making in the lives of community members.
United Fitness Partners helped support runners as they crossed the finish line for several different races. On Oct. 26, the franchise partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley to host a Spooky Fun Run 5K in the greater Phoenix area. Volunteers were spread throughout the racecourse to provide water and cheer on the runners. Race participants received a medal, a T-shirt and a dash pin. There was also a Kid’s Dash for kids 10 and under. After the race, participants were able to enter a costume contest and a raffle. Additionally, runners were able to go trick-or-treating with local vendors.
“We have such a longstanding relationship with Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley, making them the perfect partner as we launch the Spooky Fun Run for the first time,” said UFP Vice President of Operations Scott McCreery. “This event is yet another way we can work together to empower and uplift the greater Phoenix community, as we not only promote healthy lifestyles but also provide young people with the tools and encouragement they need to thrive. This event shows how meaningful collaborations can inspire and create lasting positive change for our local youth.”
A portion of the proceeds from the race registrations went to support Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley, helping the organization continue to work hard at helping youth in the area.
“We are thrilled to once again partner with Planet Fitness® in another effort that brings our community together, promoting health and wellness for all,” said Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley CEO Marcia Mintz. “Our clubs are deeply committed to supporting the youth in our community, ensuring they have the resources and encouragement to live happy, healthy lives. We’re excited to continue what’s been an incredible relationship with Planet Fitness as they provide families with a new local option for celebrating Halloween together.”
UFP helped with the Harvest Hero Run, which was also on Oct. 26. The 5K benefitted Warrior’s Rest Foundation, which helps local first responders heal from frontline traumas and empower them to live healthy, productive lives. The race featured a Halloween costume contest, raffle prizes, a Touch-a-Truck event and even an appearance from the mascot of the Oklahoma City Baseball Club, a cattle dog named Brooklyn.
“We are deeply honored to stand beside Warrior’s Rest Foundation in their mission to uplift the brave frontline workers who serve and protect us every day,” said United FP Regional Director Makenzi Sutterfield. “Here in OKC, Planet Fitness is committed to helping everyone reach their goals no matter where they are in their fitness journey. This is a testament that through not only fitness but strong local partnerships, we can help bring the community together for a great cause.”
In the weeks leading up to both races, UFP’s staff created a free training plan specifically tailored for non-runners to train for a 5K. This training plan helped newer runners be prepared for the races.
Both races saw tremendous interest from the local community, as more than 300 runners participated in the Spooky Fun Run race and over 160 runners participated in the Harvest Hero Run. The franchise group’s support showed Planet Fitness’s devotion to helping people get fit, no matter where they are on their fitness journey.
United Fitness Partners partnered with the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals football team, showcasing its mission for promoting healthy living in its local communities. As part of the partnership, United Fitness Partners’ staff were invited to attend a co-hosted Kids Football Training Camp event on Oct. 22.
Students from Westwind Elementary School participated in the camp, which was led by an Arizona Cardinals player. There were 100 students ages 5-10 who participated. Students practiced various drills, including running, throwing and blocking, along with playing a round of flag football. The event has been going on for years, but this was the first time it was held at State Farm Stadium, home of the Cardinals.
Throughout the day, UFP staff members manned a table with PF® swag and information about the Judgement Free Zone®, promoting all the benefits of a Planet Fitness® membership to the youth in attendance. Thanks to UFP’s help, the kids were able to see just how fun fitness can be.
“Our team really enjoyed participating in this year’s Kids Camp with the Arizona Cardinals. Partnering with the team for this event was awesome and a great tie-in for our organizations by promoting an active lifestyle. The kids had a blast completing the drills and enjoyed working with our on-site team,” said UFP Field Marketing Manager Cassandra Brunner.
Tamera Barrett, the club manager at United Fitness Partners’ Pine Bluff, Arkansas, location, competed in the 2024 Ms. Olympia Figure bodybuilding competition on Oct. 11 in Las Vegas, Nevada, showing both her mental and physical strength. This competition is an annual women’s bodybuilding competition that is prestigious and challenging, requiring grit and determination from participants. Barrett was one of 27 worldwide competitors, all vying for the title of Ms. Olympia.
Barrett started her fitness journey in 2016 as a member at Planet Fitness®. Growing up, she played basketball and volleyball, and today, she remains passionate about watching and playing volleyball. She decided to give bodybuilding a try after a mentor suggested it to her. She trained hard for the competition, oftentimes training in a nearby Planet Fitness club for hours.
UFP Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Club Manager Tamera Barrett smiled big on stage during the 2024 Ms. Olympia Figure bodybuilding competition.
“This particular competition I started prepping for in February 2024. I’ve been competing for eight years now, and each show requires a different prep time contingent upon when the show is. A normal training day consists of a 4 a.m. wake-up time to get my one-hour fasted cardio completed, and then I lift in the evening after work for about 2.5 hours, 5-6 days a week,” said Barrett.
Barrett has been working at UFP for six years and serves as her district’s ambassador by assisting with clubs in the Arkansas area to improve culture and build meaningful relationships with the community and teammates. Outside of working at United FP, Barrett acts as an active service member of the Arkansas National Guard where earlier this year she was nominated and competed for the Soldier of the Year Award for the state. She also received her International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB) qualification in 2022 and competes routinely.
People within UFP have taken notice of her devotion to fitness and the company. “Tamera displays leadership, influence and grit in everything she does,” said District Manager Chuck Bassett.
Staff members like Barrett prove that Planet Fitness takes fitness seriously and shapes people’s fitness journeys for the better.
Planet Fitness® encourages its members to step out of their comfort zones in a safe, inclusive Judgement Free Zone®. For Christina Everson, a 52-year-old retired accountant from Stanwood, Washington, that meant focusing on ways to improve her health and fitness. After being advised by her doctor to start weightlifting, she signed up for a Planet Fitness membership at Ohana Growth Partners’ Marysville (Smokey Point) location in September 2023.
“I am blind and over 50, so having a safe place to maintain a healthy body is important. I feel I would not have the strength and energy to take care of my household and grandchildren if I didn’t work out,” Everson said. “I also feel it helps keep me from depression and isolation, and having the Hydromassage after every workout keeps my pain levels down enough to return for my next workout.”
Many would allow excuses to get in the way of exercising, but Everson has not allowed her age or sight disability to stop her. She worked with Planet Fitness Trainer Michelle Harringtonto come up with a three-day-a-week routine, which includes a warmup, stretching and core stabilizing exercises, full-body workouts on the Matrix electric equipment, and then a cool down on a Hydromassage chair. It only took about a month for Everson to notice improvements, including losing weight in her stomach and gaining physical strength. A year later, she continues to push herself with increasing weights.
“Christina is a wonderful advocate for herself and how she responds to strength training. We go at her pace, and she’s made real, tangible strength gains,” Harrington says. “She has more than doubled the amount she lifts for most of her exercises! We have also added in more exercises and new equipment as she’s progressed. She’s been a real inspiration to our other members.”
