Blog Posts

Ohana Growth Partners Builds Safe Space for Baltimore Youth to Exercise

Ohana Growth Partners opened a Mini Judgement Free Zone® at the Baltimore Ravens Boys & Girls Club at Hilton Recreation Center in Baltimore, Maryland. The Mini Judgement Free Zone will allow kids in West Baltimore to improve their physical and mental well-being in a safe environment. The mini fitness center has 568 square feet of space, and it offers the same amenities as Planet Fitness® clubs. The space will serve as a safe place for kids ages 13 and older to work out. The franchise group held a grand opening event for the Mini JFZ® in October of last year.

“We are super excited to be able to partner with Planet Fitness and Ohana Growth Partners on this Mini Judgement Free Zone,” said Director of External Affairs & Strategic Initiatives of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Baltimore (BGCMB) Andre Fountain. “The new fitness space positively impacts young people here in the Boys & Girls Club, providing them access to build their physical fitness and help them on their journey to be active for life.”

Ohana Growth Partners has been supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Baltimore for years. In the past, the franchise group has hosted health and wellness days at Ohana clubs for the kids, sponsoring over 350 kids to attend an Orioles game for the past four years, and assisting with fundraising, mentoring “Youth of the Year” candidates as well as supporting BGCMB’s Passport to Manhood program. The Mini JFZ is just another example of how Ohana Growth Partners has given back to the youth in their community.

“When we heard that the new Boys & Girls Club would be designed as a place for youth to learn, lead and thrive and move, and that the Baltimore Ravens, Bisciotti Family Foundation and so many other amazing partners were getting involved, we knew this was something monumental and needed to be part of,” said Ohana Growth Partners President Justin Drummond. “The Mini Judgement Free Zone complements the center’s exceptional amenities and further BGCMB’s positive impact on the West Baltimore community. It’s an investment that keeps giving and an investment in the kids’ future selves.”

in Member News  by 11 May 2026

United Fitness Partners Share Love of Fitness with Local Shelter

During re-equips, Planet Fitness® franchisees like to ensure that the fitness equipment they are getting rid of does not go to waste. In early 2026, United Fitness Partners helped share the love just in time for Galentine’s Day, as they donated 300 pieces of gym equipment to several nonprofit partners across Kansas City, Pennsylvania and West Virginia through its “Project Gearshift” initiative.

One of the many nonprofits UFP donated equipment to was the Shelter KC Women’s Center. The Shelter KC is a Kansas City, Missouri, shelter for those struggling with poverty and homelessness, and the women’s center operates under the umbrella of Shelter KC, providing recovery, housing and life skills for women in need.

The fitness equipment helped to give those at the women’s center a safe and affordable way to work out, allowing them to gain strength both physically and mentally. The generous donation helped strengthen PF®’s ideology of creating “judgement free zones” for everyone to exercise. The fitness equipment came from UFP’s Warrensburg and Sedalia locations in Missouri.

UFP received a heartfelt handwritten thank-you letter from the shelter, showing how much of a difference the donated equipment made for shelter residents. It was a reminder that something as small as a fitness equipment donation can make a huge difference in the lives of another person.

“Project Gearshift wasn’t just about refreshing our clubs. It was about doing the right thing for our communities. Repurposing equipment to local partners helped expand access to fitness where it’s needed most. Everyone matters, and this is what that looks like in action,” said Cullen Barbato, CEO at United Fitness Partners.

in Member News  by 11 May 2026

Ohana Growth Partners Grows Leadership Suite

Ohana Growth Partners has had a lot of positive changes in its leadership suite lately. It has celebrated the hard work of its teams by promoting two different staff members.

Karen Cepress has been appointed vice president of strategy at Ohana Growth Partners. She has been working with Ohana Growth Partners for 12 years, where she began as a general manager. With hard work and ambition, she was able to work her way up from general manager, director of analytics, director of member and ops services, and now, vice president of strategy. She started her career in the Army as a military intelligence analyst, where she learned how to analyze complex data and translate information into strategic recommendations for military command operations. After her time in the Army, she spent several years as an accountant, then worked in the hospitality industry before landing on a role with Ohana Growth Partners.

“When I joined Planet Fitness® and Ohana Growth Partners, it felt like a natural convergence of everything I had learned. It allowed me to bring together my intelligence and analytics background, my financial acumen and my operational experience in a truly people-first environment,” said Cepress.

Andrew Poirier has been named vice president of operations. He has worked with Ohana Growth Partners for more than 10 years, moving up the ranks from general manager to regional manager to director of operations, and now, his new role as VP of operations. He started his career in the U.S. Navy, where he learned discipline, teamwork and accountability, as well as when his passion for fitness began to grow.

“Following the military, I worked for myself as a computer technician. This strengthened my entrepreneurial mindset and networking skills, but I missed working as part of a team and the camaraderie I experienced in the military. When I eventually found Planet Fitness, and more specifically, Ohana Growth Partners, that sense of teamwork and shared purpose returned. I also recognized the strength of the brand and its growth trajectory as an opportunity to help build something meaningful,” Poirier said. “What I enjoy most about working within the Planet Fitness system is how that camaraderie extends beyond individual franchise groups. Across the system, franchisees and teams are open to sharing best practices, supporting one another and collaborating. I believe our franchise organization is truly unique in that regard.”

In their new roles, the two will be able to work on different areas of the business to help Ohana Growth Partners grow even stronger.

in Recognitions  by 11 May 2026

UFP’s Annual Toy Drive Continues to Grow Stronger

United Fitness Partners closed out 2025 on a high note. The franchise group had another successful campaign with its 2025 Toy Drive. For over eight years, UFP has partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of America for an annual toy drive. In 2025, UFP hosted the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley Toy Drive in-club from Dec.1-22 in all 40 of its locations in the Phoenix metro area, allowing members and staff to donate toys to the cause. The group helped the BGCAZ sort the toys on Dec. 23.

Each year, the annual toy drive continues to grow in success, bringing in more toys and more holiday joy for the local community youth. In 2025, UFP surpassed its previous records and collected more toys than ever before. In 2024, 1,480 total toys were collected, while in 2025 there were around 2,000 toys collected. Toys from dolls, stuffed animals, games and sports equipment were collected for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley locations.

What originally began as a simple way to give back has become a meaningful tradition that strengthens its connection with the youth in the local community. The Boys & Girls Clubs of America is a vital partner for Planet Fitness, and community efforts like these help ensure the bond between the two organizations stay strong.

“This is one of our team’s favorite events,” said Senior Field Marketing Manager at United FP Cassandra Brunner. “I’m so glad we have this partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley and continue to bring joy to our local youth during the holiday season.”

in Member News  by 11 May 2026

Ohana Growth Partners Gifted Holiday Cheer to Local Youth with Toy Drive

During the holidays, it is common for families to invest money into toys and gifts for their kids. However, some families do not have the budget to purchase presents. Ohana Growth Partners helped lessen the financial strain for many families this past holiday season by holding a toy drive.

Due to the hard work of Ohana Growth Partners staff, many boxes of toys were donated to the Boys & Girls Club of Germantown and Gaithersburg.

Ohana’s Germantown and Gaithersburg, Maryland, clubs held Toys for Tots drives throughout the holidays to collect toys for kids. Through the efforts of both locations, they were able to fill a total of five boxes for Toys for Tots, along with two additional boxes donated to the Boys & Girls Club of Germantown and Gaithersburg. This toy drive became a reminder of all the ways Planet Fitness® works hard to support its local communities throughout the year.

in Member News  by 11 May 2026