SANTA MONICA, Calif. & CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Please replace the release with the following corrected version due to multiple revisions.
The updated release reads:
THE BEACHBODY FOUNDATION COMMITS $1 MILLION TO TURN FORMER WALGREENS INTO NEW CHICAGO YOUTH CENTER
In conjunction with ringing the opening bell on the NYSE on 6/28 for The Beachbody Company, the Beachbody Foundation will celebrate by “ringing the bell” on a new chapter of opportunity for Chicago’s youth to lead healthier lives
The Beachbody Foundation today announced that in partnership with GO Campaign, it has committed $1 million dollars to support a new project with Future Ties, a Chicago-based non-profit started by Chicago Policewoman Jennifer Maddox, to help support low-income families by providing after school and summer programs for their children.
The Beachbody Foundation is building upon its mission of helping people achieve their goals and enjoy a healthy, fulfilling life through this donation, which will be allocated directly toward the reconstruction of a 25,000-square-foot empty former Walgreens building into a recreation and wellness center for Chicago’s South Side youth. The program currently runs from a basement, which limits the programming options and capacity of the number of youth and children Future Ties can work with. The new center will host critical after school and summer programs to help children in the community.
In celebration of this impactful commitment, Officer Maddox is arranging for the residents of Parkway Garden Homes to gather for a symbolic bell ringing at the same time as The Beachbody Company rings the Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Monday, June 28th.
“We had a few alternatives to commemorate this big day for Beachbody. We could have done a giant workout on Wall Street with our Super Trainers, or given away Shakeology to the NYSE traders, but none of that resonated with the real heart of what we do,” said Carl Daikeler, CEO of The Beachbody Company and President of the Beachbody Foundation. “But when we heard that with one decision we could make a dramatic impact on the lives of over 1,000 kids and adults in the Chicago-area by providing them a safe space where they can establish healthy habits, we knew that’s how we should celebrate the debut of BODY on the NYSE.”
The new center will feature a kitchen for teaching about healthy eating and nutrition, an indoor basketball court and gym for children to play sports without concerns of neighborhood violence and other threats, as well as mental health counseling and wellness classes to teach families how to cope with trauma and manage their stress, anxiety, and PTSD.
“We’re very grateful to the Beachbody Foundation for their commitment and generous contribution to bring this vision to life for the children in our community, and to GO Campaign for their partnership,” said Jennifer Maddox, Founder of Future Ties, Chicago Policewoman and GO Campaign Local Hero. “With our new home for youth programs, I’m confident we will see a recognizable impact within Chicago’s South Side and be able to further support our children in leading healthier, and ultimately happier, lives.”
“For many years, GO Campaign has been on the receiving end of The Beachbody Foundation’s generosity, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring together Carl’s big heart with Jennifer’s passion,” said Scott Fifer, Founder & CEO of GO Campaign. “This is the start of something special and long overdue for Chicago’s underserved youth.”
With the planned developments, the center will play a vital role in changing lives of Chicago’s youth, as childhood obesity in the city is at a higher rate compared to children nationally. This is an issue only made worse by the pandemic, as children have been getting less physical exercise due to lack of a safe space for children to move around and play.
In celebration of the Foundation’s donation, and the exciting possibilities it unlocks for the new youth center, approximately 200 residents of the Parkway Garden Homes in Chicago’s South Side are expected to gather for their own symbolic bell-ringing event at the same time as the Opening Bell on June 28, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. ET at the New York Stock Exchange to signify The Beachbody Company’s debut as a public company under the ticker symbol “BODY.”
About Future Ties
Future Ties provides homework help and after school activities five days per week, as well as a summer camp when school is not in session. Hundreds of kids participate in Future Ties’ programming each year, which includes field trips to places like the beach and a roller skating rink, arts and crafts, guest speakers, and movie nights. The academic mentorship that Future Ties provides helps young people achieve grades and test scores high enough to be admitted to test-in high schools around the city.
About The Beachbody Foundation
The Beachbody Foundation supports organizations with a clear mission and plan to protect freedom, secure equality of treatment and opportunity, and foster true health and well-being. Through a series of donations and charitable initiatives, the Beachbody Foundation has donated to organizations like Feeding America, International Justice Mission, Go Campaign, Big Brothers Big Sisters, RainCatcher, The American Red Cross, Save-A-Warrior, NAACP and others.
About GO Campaign
Since 2006, GO Campaign has partnered with 173 Local Heroes to change the lives of over 185,000 children across 37 countries – from East LA to East Africa. GO finds Local Heroes who are advocating for change at the grassroots level to help children in their communities thrive. GO listens to their heroes on the ground, because they know better than anyone what the youth in their communities need. GO Campaign has been working with Future Ties since 2019 to support their gun violence prevention efforts and has also been providing urgent needs to Future Ties families throughout the pandemic.