History of Fit4Free

Fit4Free is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2000 to address the growing problems of obesity, overweight and type 2 diabetes among America’s youth. The mission of Fit4Free is to engage youth in after-school programming that inspires healthy eating habits and increased physical activity in an effort to prevent type 2 diabetes, obesity and other lifestyle-related illnesses. Our programs are implemented by experienced professionals in the fields of fitness, nutrition, and the culinary arts.

Since its inception, Fit4Free has offered free health education programming at many schools and after-school organizations in Los Angeles County. Most notably, Fit4Free has hosted long-term programs at the Santa Monica High School Teen Parenting Center and the Boys and Girls Club of Hollywood.

At the Teen Parenting Center in SMHS, the fitness experts at Fit4Free were invited to host a series of health and fitness classes for pregnant and parenting teens. These mothers and mothers-to-be were informed about the proper nutrition required during pregnancy and the proper nutrition for infants and children. Fit4Free also donated exercise videos as part of the program, inspiring many of the girls to begin working out during their lunch break.

At the Boys and Girls Club of Hollywood, Fit4Free hosted a series of fitness and nutrition classes for youth and teens, which evolved into a permanent and continuing program engaging kids and parents, now called the Fit Community.

In addition to hosting weekly youth fitness classes lead by an experienced fitness trainer, we have acquired a full, top-of-the-line adult gym for the teens and parents at the Boys and Girls Club. We also have the latest circuit training equipment for our weekly classes, including conditioning equipment for cardio, balance, coordination, strength and stretching.

Fit4free has also partnered with Whole Foods and several volunteer chefs to host semi-monthly cooking classes for our youth participants at BGCH. These popular classes feature healthy, kid-friendly recipes and offer hands on training for kids to learn how to create healthy meals.

Other corporate donors include Sunsweet, Fiji Water, and Bush’s Beans. Through these donations, we have been able to offer our students healthy snacks whenever possible. Fit4Free has also been successful in working with the Boys and Girls Club to revamp the vending machines with “healthier” alternatives for after-school snacks.

Fit4Free is governed by an accomplished Board of Directors, which includes an advisory board of professionals in the fields of medicine, fitness, law, research and education. Please explore our website to learn more about our governing board, and our current programs and activities.

Thank you for visiting Fit4Free!