Member News

Every year, Planet Fitness^® franchisees give their time and donations to local organizations. In December, JP Management Services volunteered with Mission for Area People (MAP), an organization that provides Muskegon County, Michigan, residents with resources to meet basic needs. This was the first time the franchise group has volunteered with MAP.

Staff members of JP Management Services and MAP created a Teen Town, in which parents could shop and get wrapped presents for their teen children ages 15-18. MAP also serves younger children through programs such as Toys for Tots and The Salvation Army, but the organization realized it needed to do something for older children during the holidays as well.

Parents and guardians pre-registered for the Teen Town event. Each parent was assigned a volunteer to help them shop for up to four stocking stuffers, four gifts, gift cards and a blanket. The volunteers helped the parents with their gift selections and then helped them wrap the gifts.

For the stocking stuffers, parents were able to pick from items such as headphones, cologne, warm socks and hats. Gift options included electronics, sports equipment, board games and clothing, while gift cards offered were from McDonald’s, Amazon, GameStop and Kohl’s. Over 50 families were able to attend the event.

Kyle Schepel, regional manager for JP Management Services, volunteered for the day and was amazed by how much the company was able to give back to the teens in the local community.

“This was a great event, geared toward teenagers who are often overlooked by these types of gift-giving programs. The event was incredibly well organized by the MAP team, and we all truly enjoyed helping the parents with their selections and knowing we were filling a sorely missed niche in the community. I’m lucky to work for a company who every day looks for ways to give back to our communities,” said Schepel.

In addition to volunteering at this all-day event, JP Management Services presented MAP with a $17,500 check. This generous donation helped fulfill many of the wish list gifts for the Teen Town shopping experience.

“At JP Management Services, we feel an obligation to be philanthropic throughout the year, as it helps to build our relationships in the community, with our members, our prospective members, as well as brand awareness. Good people working with organizations that do good works reminds us to always have our giving hats on, not just during the holidays,” said JP Management Services Owner and operator Julian Monterosso.

Gyms can be intimidating, which is why Planet Fitness^® strives to be a Judgement Free Zone^®. Cali Mayne didn’t have a gym membership before working at Planet Fitness because she felt out of place and intimidated by gyms. It wasn’t until she started as a member services team player in January 2022 at Planet Fitness that she felt comfortable in a gym. She got this role at the Leesburg, Virginia, club, an Excel Fitness location.

“I never felt like I belonged in a gym because of my body shape. I’ve been overweight for as long as I can remember, at least since my early teens. I didn’t know anyone who went to Planet Fitness, but it didn’t take long for me to make some amazing connections. When I did my interview with GM Andre Morgan and felt the atmosphere of support he radiated, I knew I was exactly where I was supposed to be,” said Mayne.

In November 2022, Mayne quickly moved into the fitness trainer role. Throughout her job experience at Planet Fitness, she says many of her coworkers have impacted her in a positive way. These workers helped inspire her with their positive attitudes and their belief in her ability to do a good job.

Mayne started working out at Planet Fitness once she was employed there. Club members also helped inspire her. She mentioned several club members who influenced her by being honest, unafraid to be vulnerable and being kind to themselves and others. Having a job at Planet Fitness transformed her life because she was surrounded by positive, influential people who encouraged her during her weight loss journey.

“I’m so grateful for this opportunity to help those around me, and I want to thank Brandon and Virginia for pushing me to step out of my comfort zone by accepting the fitness trainer position. After losing over 100 pounds, I’ve gained a new life – a life that I am proud of,” said Mayne.

She also recently published a book about the lifestyle change she created for herself. The book is called “Consistently Compassionate: Creating a Sustainable Lifestyle Change.”

Mayne was inspired to become a certified personal trainer (CPT) through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. After becoming a CPT in January 2022, Mayne realized there was a gap between new gymgoers and already active people, which leads to many people not getting the fitness assistance they need. She made it her mission to fix that.

“I want to bridge the gap of people who are not comfortable with physical health environments with those who are – to remind everyone that we are all human. I believe physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle is a human right for everyone. This is why I wanted to become a trainer. I can relate with many people who join Planet Fitness as their first gym experience, and I want to educate them on the knowledge and wisdom I’ve learned to give them confidence that they can do it too. I want to be the person I needed when I started my journey, but for others,” said Mayne.

As a Planet Fitness trainer, it’s important to not just talk the talk, but also walk the walk.

“I try to inspire members by remaining consistently compassionate. Every single person I meet has problems I may never know about. I do my best to be kind to every single person I interact with and provide any knowledge or wisdom I have gained when the time feels appropriate, but I listen a lot. When I take the time to listen, it allows me to gain insight to what each person needs,” she said. “I also work out regularly to show others that it’s important to move your body consistently, not just by saying it but by also doing it.”

The Planet Fitness^® Detroit Co-Op, which includes EPIC Fitness and Impact Fitness, sponsored two initiatives with iHeart Media in Detroit for the holidays. EPIC Fitness was a lead sponsor for Jay’s Juniors trip, which gave a fully paid trip to Walt Disney World for children with serious medical conditions and their families. Those chosen were able to visit Disney World for a week in December.

Jay Towers, the host of 100.3 at iHeart Media in Detroit, organized the event. The franchise group’s sponsorship of Jay’s Juniors was $60,000. The franchise group has supported this initiative for many years, but the trip was unable to happen in 2020 or 2021 due to COVID.

“Taking 25 children with life-altering or life-threatening illnesses and their families on an all-expenses paid trip to Disney World at Christmastime is no easy task. It takes a year to plan, and you need to have partners who understand that their contribution and commitment is life changing for these families. Thankfully with Jay’s Juniors, I’m fortunate enough to have that with Planet Fitness. They are more than just a financial partner, they are family. Our listeners in Detroit know that this program doesn’t happen without Planet Fitness,” said Towers.

The PF^® franchise groups also gave a donation to iHeartRadio’s Mojo in the Morning’s “Breaking and Entering” holiday feature. In the month of December, Mojo and his team sneaked into the home of a family in need and surprised them with Christmas gifts and more. The franchise group donated $7,000 to the cause.

“With Planet Fitness’s support, we are able to help those who really need it during the holiday season,” said Alisha Bailey, senior account manager at iHeart Media.