Talking Points

• The Dewitt location of Planet Fitness has partnered with Project Fit America for a week-long charity event from May 1-7. PFxPFA Charity Week will raise money to sponsor a school in the Syracuse City School District to participate in Project Fit America programs.

  • Planet Fitness Dewitt is located at 5859 Bridge Street in East Syracuse.

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• PFxPFA Charity Week has three main components: daily fitness classes open to members and non-members; daily fitness competitions for members with a small entry fee; and daily raffle drawings. 

  • Fitness classes are $10 for members and $20 for non-members. The type of class will be different each day. 

  • Competition entry is $5. Competitions will be different each day and will include male and female divisions.

  • Raffle tickets are $1 each and one member a day will win a year of free membership.

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• Planet Fitness has a strong tradition of community service, and PFxPFA charity week falls under the umbrella of the Judgement Free Generation, which is our company-wide pro-kindness, anti-bullying initiative. 

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• Project Fit America is a national agency that works at the grassroots level with schools and front-line educators to create new opportunities for kids to be active, fit and healthy. PFA works with communities to bring in funding, equipment, teacher training, curricula, and the resources schools need to get fit and foster a love of movement. 

  • PFA has donated to over 1000 schools in 400 cities and 46 states since 1990

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• Syracuse City Schools are the key to our community. But with most of our city schools located in urban and poverty-stricken areas, PFA can be a key community benefit that helps strengthen the community and meets the Foundation’s mission of creating healthier, more livable communities.

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• The Syracuse City School District does not have the financial resources to fund extracurricular programs like Project Fit America without external donations. 

  • Taxation in a low-income city is extremely difficult and approximately 75.1% ($249 million) of the Syracuse City School District’s General Fund Budget is from State Aid, which limits extracurricular funding. 

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• Currently, the Syracuse City School District graduation rate is 64.5%. CDC Research suggests that increasing physical activity and physical fitness may improve academic performance and that time in the school day dedicated to recess, physical education class, and physical activity in the classroom may also facilitate improved academic performance.