T
eamwork took on a whole new
meaning as the Detroit Planet Fitness
owners, their employees, club members and
vendors, walked together wearing purple
T-shirts at the Make-A-Wish® Foundation of Michigan's 17th Annual Walk For
Wishes® at the Detroit Zoo May 2.
In all, Team Planet Fitness raised
more than $50,000, making the event
the most successful Walk For Wishes® in
Michigan history, raising $460,000. The
four owners collectively donated $15,000,
while over three hundred employees,
club members and vendors raised more
than $25,000 for the cause. Planet Fitness
corporate donated $10,000 of the holiday
gift funds raised nationally last December.
As the lead patron of the event,
members of the Planet Fitness Detroit
co-op granted the wishes of two children.
Katlyn of St. Clair, Michigan, is a 15-yearold heart transplant recipient. She loves
cheerleading and shopping, and wished
to go to California. Her wish was granted
with a recent trip to the West Coast,
where she enjoyed the beach. Alyssa of
Planet Fitness franchisees in the Detroit,
Michigan-area present a check for
$25,000 to the Make-A-Wish® Foundation.
Canton, Michigan, is 14 years old and
was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Her
wish for a bedroom makeover came true
when wishmakers redesigned it in her two
favorites: purple and sparkles.
“Our employees, members, and
corporate played a very big role in this
event,” said Bryan Rief, co-owner of 16
clubs in metro Detroit. “McCall Gosselin
and the corporate PR department worked
tirelessly to get us the press coverage we
needed. Without their help, we couldn’t
have made this the largest Walk For
Wishes® event in Michigan history.”
“When we called our vendors, they
Susque Who??
were quick to respond to this outreach,”
said Jim Matthew, who owns six Detroit
area clubs with Dennis Backos.
“Speaking on behalf of all the Detroit
owners, Laura and Bryan Rief, Dennis
Backos, Jim Matthew, Ron Huling, my wife
Ellen and myself, we were all very excited
to support Make-A-Wish® Michigan and
to honor Katlyn and Alyssa,” added Chris
Klebba, owner of five local clubs. “These
two girls are amazing examples of the
difference Make-A-Wish® is able to make
in families’ lives, and we are honored to
meet them both and hear their courageous
stories. We are also overwhelmed with
the support we received from our vendors
and in our local clubs, over 300 members
recruited to the Planet Fitness team so far.”
At the closing ceremony, the franchisees presented a check to Make-A-Wish®
Michigan. “This is a true testament to
what teamwork can do,” said Huling. “We
had a beautiful day, the skies were clear.
Hundreds of employees, club members
and vendors showed up. We couldn’t
have asked for a better day.” G
member news
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Detroit-Area Franchisees Spend a Day at the Zoo Making Wishes Come True
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An Experienced
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Sade Robbins
Inside Sales Representative
484.913.2213
Sade.Robbins@susquehanna.net
GearedUp | 2015 Issue 1
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443.966.1792
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