Spring Branch Family Development Center, a family service center at 8575 Pitner, will receive one of two donated playgrounds to be built in the Houston area.
The 24 Hour Fitness chain and KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit dedicated to bringing play back into the lives of children, teamed up to build new playgrounds in Houston communities impacted by Hurricane Ike.
Throughout October, 24 Hour Fitness donated $1 from the monthly dues of Houston-area members to KaBOOM! to help build the playgrounds.
24 Hour Fitness employees will join members and community volunteers to build the playground on Feb. 7, 2009.
“We are honored to have been selected as the playground site,” said Ricardo Barnes, MA, LPC, executive director of Spring Branch Family Development Center. “We serve 500 children every day, and they will love having a new play area.
“The excitement will begin in early December when we recruit 20 to 30 children and an equal number of adults to take part in Design Day. They will actually have a hand in selecting the elements of the play space.” The playground will be built by 200 volunteers on a single day in February, 2009.
Each day, children are on the center’s campus taking part in pre-kindergarten education and after-school programs.
24 Hour Fitness CEO Carl Liebert said the company understands not only the importance of physical exercise, but having fun.
“As part of the Houston community, 24 Hour Fitness wants to ensure that kids in these neighborhoods have a place where they can just be kids again,” Liebert said.
Since 2001 Spring Branch Family Development Center, a 501(c)(3) organization, has provided education, recreation, health and social services, in one location, to residents in the Spring Branch community. Every partner that joins SBFDC is expected to collaborate with all other partners, and in doing so become stronger than if it worked alone. All services are available in English and Spanish. Currently services include: Panda Path, pre-kindergarten education provided by Spring Branch Independent School District; after-school programs, Boys & Girls Club of Houston; nutritional services for mothers and children through WIC; family and individual counseling, Family Services of Greater Houston; recovery programs, Houston Council on Alcohol and Drugs; and English as a second language classes provided by Harris County Department of Education. Visit www.sbfdc.org.
Headquartered in San Ramon, Calif., 24 Hour Fitness, an innovative leader in the health and fitness industry, serves more than three million members in more than 425 clubs worldwide. Founded in 1983 as a one-club operation, 24 Hour Fitness pioneered the concept of making fitness accessible, affordable and a way of life for everyone. The company demonstrates its leadership through sponsorships like that of the U.S. Olympic Team and a commitment to the community through various charitable and in-kind donations. In addition, 24 Hour Fitness enjoys strategic partnerships with major consumer brands like Coca-Cola and Nike, and for six seasons has partnered with NBC’s popular reality TV show, The Biggest Loser. Please call 1-800-224-0240 or visit www.24HourFitness.com for more information.