SPIRIT Club: Integrated Fitness!
Donation protected
Hello & thank you for checking out SPIRIT Club’s GoFundMe page! My name is Jared Ciner and I am asking you to help us build a join the movement of making heath & fitness programs accessible to ALL people. SPIRIT Club offers specialized fitness programs for people with special abilities & needs to over 150 members in 15 locations throughout Maryland. We are now creating our own gym that will offer integrated opportunities and specialized programs so that people of all abilities can exercise under the same roof. We are working with FX Fitness, creators of the Under Armour Performance Centers, for discounted equipment and design consultation. I am asking for your support to bring this plan together.
BACKGROUND:
Three years ago I was working as a Personal Trainer and a Support Counselor, and I began offering adapted fitness classes for people with disabilities, including people who are nonverbal and have never participated in an exercise class before.
Since 2013, SPIRIT Club has helped hundreds in the Washington, DC metro area who have developmental and physical differences participate in fitness and wellness programs, as well as become employed to teach them! Witnessing the transformation of our members has been the most rewarding part of the journey. These great feelings were exemplified by the terrific recognition from the community and in the media, including the the Washington Post , Voice of America , and the cover of American Profile magazine! 
S.P.I.R.I.T. is an acronym for:
Social
Physical
I nteractive
Respectful
I ntegrated
Teamwork
Now, SPIRIT Club has an incredible opportunity to grow in size and scope by moving into a larger facility so multiple programs can be offered at the same time. We have been looking for a new space for nearly a year…and we found one! It is within walking distance of our current studio and nearly 3 times the size. Here, we will be able to develop an innovative & integrated center where people of all abilities can appreciate each other’s strengths and respect one another by building both muscle and relationships under the same roof.
Here’s a breakdown of what we need:
$30,000: Renovations of former mechanical warehouse space. We need to build adapted bathrooms, ramps and other accessible features, and we need the floors and lighting upgraded. The space will be broken up into several rooms for classes, personal training and office space.
$35,000: Gym equipment (typical and adapted equipment), soft flooring, mirrors, and specialized equipment to support the body weight of those not yet able to walk independently.
$10,000: Moving and Growing Costs - Operational expenses to move out of our current one room studio and expand Spirit Club to reach more members and families.
WE HAVE SECURED A $50,000 LOAN AND ONLY NEED TO RAISE ANOTHER $25,000 TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN!
Your GoFundMe Donation will make our next dream come true, and the TIME IS NOW! Our new lease starts July 1st. Every donation makes a difference and makes a statement about how all of us can work together for a healthier and more integrated society. With your support, we will be able to offer our services to more people in our Washington, DC Metro area community, and to share this dream and these proven methods around the world! SPIRIT Club is based in Kensington, Maryland and also offers classes in 15 locations around the area. With the additional space, more trainers (some of whom are former members) and more programs, SPIRIT Club is ready to showcase how every community can have the resources needed to offer supportive fitness programs that support people with special needs.
Please know that every donation will help grow the dream of “Fitness for All” - no matter how big or small. If you are able to contribute more than $100, we will gladly offer you a free Personal Training session and mail you a SPIRIT Club t-shirt signed by a Member and a Trainer! Please check out our video, website (http://spirit-club.com) and learn more about our story below:
More Background & History
While working as a Support Counselor for adults with developmental disabilities and as a Personal Trainer at a gym, I discovered there was a high degree of interest and great need for a specialized fitness programming for my agency clients - and the need is real. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people with disabilities are 58% more likely to be obese than the general population.
This is where SPIRIT Club comes in. SPIRIT Club offers specialized fitness services that support the needs of all people including those with physical and developmental differences. Today SPIRIT Club has supported over 300 people with special needs including persons who are nonverbal, those diagnosed with autism, Down syndrome, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, CHARGE syndrome, muscular dystrophy, paralysis, and stroke survivors.
Our services include Group Classes such as Yoga, Zumba, General Fitness and Supported Fitness, as well as Personal Training and Partner Training. All of our Trainers have undergone specialized training through the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA).
We have also focused on increasing employment for people with disabilities by hiring people with disabilities to help teach classes, market our programs and maintain our fitness center. Sam Smith, the terrific narrator of our GoFundMe video, was the very first person to join the SPIRIT Club team, and he is now a certified Fitness Trainer and Zumba instructor!
We have recently received great recognition from the media including stories in the Washington Post, Voice of America, Good Morning America and on the cover of American Profile magazine (http://spirit-club.com/about/press/)!
Our journey growing from 1 Group Class per week to offering over 20 Group Classes and 60 Personalized Training sessions per week has been the most rewarding experience I could have ever imagined. With your support, this dream will grow exponentially.
THANK YOU SO MUCH for taking the time to read our story and watch our video. If you would be so kind to share this link with family and friends, we would truly appreciate it. You can also learn more about SPIRIT Club on our website at: http://spirit-club.com
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:
Spirit Club Foundation 501(c)3
We have recently worked to support the development of the Spirit Club Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides scholarships and other resources to make health and fitness more accessible to people with disabilities of low income. You can learn more about the foundation and make a tax-deductible donation to the Spirit Club Foundation at http://spiritclubfoundation.org
Thank you again for your support :)
Jared Ciner
Founder, Director
Fitness Trainer (NASM)
jciner@spirit-club.com
www.spirit-club.com
BACKGROUND:
Three years ago I was working as a Personal Trainer and a Support Counselor, and I began offering adapted fitness classes for people with disabilities, including people who are nonverbal and have never participated in an exercise class before.
Since 2013, SPIRIT Club has helped hundreds in the Washington, DC metro area who have developmental and physical differences participate in fitness and wellness programs, as well as become employed to teach them! Witnessing the transformation of our members has been the most rewarding part of the journey. These great feelings were exemplified by the terrific recognition from the community and in the media, including the the Washington Post , Voice of America , and the cover of American Profile magazine! S.P.I.R.I.T. is an acronym for:
Social
Physical
I nteractive
Respectful
I ntegrated
Teamwork
Now, SPIRIT Club has an incredible opportunity to grow in size and scope by moving into a larger facility so multiple programs can be offered at the same time. We have been looking for a new space for nearly a year…and we found one! It is within walking distance of our current studio and nearly 3 times the size. Here, we will be able to develop an innovative & integrated center where people of all abilities can appreciate each other’s strengths and respect one another by building both muscle and relationships under the same roof.
Here’s a breakdown of what we need:
$30,000: Renovations of former mechanical warehouse space. We need to build adapted bathrooms, ramps and other accessible features, and we need the floors and lighting upgraded. The space will be broken up into several rooms for classes, personal training and office space.
$35,000: Gym equipment (typical and adapted equipment), soft flooring, mirrors, and specialized equipment to support the body weight of those not yet able to walk independently.
$10,000: Moving and Growing Costs - Operational expenses to move out of our current one room studio and expand Spirit Club to reach more members and families.
WE HAVE SECURED A $50,000 LOAN AND ONLY NEED TO RAISE ANOTHER $25,000 TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN!
Your GoFundMe Donation will make our next dream come true, and the TIME IS NOW! Our new lease starts July 1st. Every donation makes a difference and makes a statement about how all of us can work together for a healthier and more integrated society. With your support, we will be able to offer our services to more people in our Washington, DC Metro area community, and to share this dream and these proven methods around the world! SPIRIT Club is based in Kensington, Maryland and also offers classes in 15 locations around the area. With the additional space, more trainers (some of whom are former members) and more programs, SPIRIT Club is ready to showcase how every community can have the resources needed to offer supportive fitness programs that support people with special needs.
Please know that every donation will help grow the dream of “Fitness for All” - no matter how big or small. If you are able to contribute more than $100, we will gladly offer you a free Personal Training session and mail you a SPIRIT Club t-shirt signed by a Member and a Trainer! Please check out our video, website (http://spirit-club.com) and learn more about our story below:
More Background & History
While working as a Support Counselor for adults with developmental disabilities and as a Personal Trainer at a gym, I discovered there was a high degree of interest and great need for a specialized fitness programming for my agency clients - and the need is real. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people with disabilities are 58% more likely to be obese than the general population.
This is where SPIRIT Club comes in. SPIRIT Club offers specialized fitness services that support the needs of all people including those with physical and developmental differences. Today SPIRIT Club has supported over 300 people with special needs including persons who are nonverbal, those diagnosed with autism, Down syndrome, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, CHARGE syndrome, muscular dystrophy, paralysis, and stroke survivors.
Our services include Group Classes such as Yoga, Zumba, General Fitness and Supported Fitness, as well as Personal Training and Partner Training. All of our Trainers have undergone specialized training through the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA).
We have also focused on increasing employment for people with disabilities by hiring people with disabilities to help teach classes, market our programs and maintain our fitness center. Sam Smith, the terrific narrator of our GoFundMe video, was the very first person to join the SPIRIT Club team, and he is now a certified Fitness Trainer and Zumba instructor!
We have recently received great recognition from the media including stories in the Washington Post, Voice of America, Good Morning America and on the cover of American Profile magazine (http://spirit-club.com/about/press/)!
Our journey growing from 1 Group Class per week to offering over 20 Group Classes and 60 Personalized Training sessions per week has been the most rewarding experience I could have ever imagined. With your support, this dream will grow exponentially.
THANK YOU SO MUCH for taking the time to read our story and watch our video. If you would be so kind to share this link with family and friends, we would truly appreciate it. You can also learn more about SPIRIT Club on our website at: http://spirit-club.com
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:
Spirit Club Foundation 501(c)3
We have recently worked to support the development of the Spirit Club Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides scholarships and other resources to make health and fitness more accessible to people with disabilities of low income. You can learn more about the foundation and make a tax-deductible donation to the Spirit Club Foundation at http://spiritclubfoundation.org
Thank you again for your support :)
Jared Ciner
Founder, Director
Fitness Trainer (NASM)
jciner@spirit-club.com
www.spirit-club.com
Organizer
Jared Ciner
Organizer
North Kensington, MD
