Planet Fitness has long had a connection with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Supporting local Boys & Girls Clubs has been a way to give back to the community and the next generation. In January, Excel Fitness and their private equity group, Altamont, took that support to a major level. Altamont donated a total of $30,000 to support Boys & Girls Clubs in Excel Fitness’s Planet Fitness® communities. That includes BGCA clubs in Raleigh, Fort Worth, Dallas, Austin, Tulsa and Northwest Arkansas.

Chris Epper, vice president of marketing for Excel Fitness, explained that Altamont Capital Partners recently established a philanthropic organization called the ACP Foundation to provide support for local communities near their portfolio companies. “We are excited to announce that Excel Fitness and our local Planet Fitness gyms are part of this year’s donation. 2020 was a difficult year for many families and the youth in our local communities, and now more than ever it’s crucial that we can provide support to kick off 2021,” he said.

Epper went on to explain that the Boys & Girls Club’s mission closely aligns with the ACP Foundation’s focus on diversity and inclusion – and youth empowerment. Epper’s group did not want their involvement in this project to end with this donation, either. They asked how their local teams can help beyond this donation. “We know it might not be the right environment to donate time, but we are committed to dedicating our team to help out as needed,” he said. “Many of the Boys & Girls Clubs and their leadership voiced interest, and we are in the process of pursuing volunteer opportunities to support their organizations’ various needs in 2021.”

2020 has served to highlight why it is so important to give back to the community and help those in need. The support given to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America will go a long way to helping young people and shaping our next generation, and that is something to feel hopeful about as 2021 gets underway.