O2 Supports Steve's Club
Donating $10,000 for At-Risk Youth Fitness
O2 and partner gyms in the Community Coalition are happy to announce their second $10,000 donation to Steve's Club, a nationwide fitness and mentorship program for at-risk youth.
“Steve’s Club is a vital part of America’s fitness community, and we’re proud to partner with 333 gyms this year to make this donation possible,” said Dave Colina, O2 founder and CEO.
A coalition of Steve’s Club supporters
Steve's Club is a nationwide organization that offers free group fitness classes to disadvantaged children, many of whom live in communities stricken by problems exacerbated by the pandemic.
Its mission is an inspiration to Colina, a founding member of the Community Coalition - a family of businesses dedicated to supporting fitness initiatives all over the country.
“We are blown away that O2 and the Community Coalition continue to grow its support of our work – even during COVID-19,” said Leora Hafri, Executive Director of Steve’s Club National Program. “It’s amazing how Dave and O2 have brought so many different partners together to support the CrossFit community during these challenging times.”
Keeping kids fit in a pandemic
Community Coalition support is especially important to Steve’s Club in 2020, as grant funds were frozen and in-person fundraising events were canceled due to the pandemic. The donation helps drive two big initiatives, in particular:
--Shifting Steve’s Club Leadership Camp online
--Building a Youth Advisory Committee to help bridge the gap between Steve’s Club youth, alumni, and the Steve’s Club National Program (SCNP) staff and leadership team.
The SCNP Summer Leadership Camp expanded to more athletes with accessibility to virtual programming that provides an immersive experience with activities that focus on self-exploration, character-building, and leadership development. “Having the knowledge that there are other people out there going through the same struggles that COVID has created has helped me to feel like I’m not alone,” said a Steve’s Club athlete.
In 2020, 64 athletes participated from nine local clubs, including 22 alumni and seven at-home participants - over three times more than typically attend the in-person Leadership Camp.
[above] James Hobart (right), coaches Steve’s Club Camden athletes in Pennsauken Township, NJ, during the program’s national expansion.
Steve’s Club celebrates its 10th anniversary
SCNP celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2020, and the O2 and Community Coalition donations will also help drive expansion in gyms across the country that will offer Steve’s Club programs to local youth in the coming year.
“After opening my gym I began the process of starting a Steve’s Club, which was much easier than I expected,” said Rebecca Brown, founder of Steve’s Club Nashville. “It’s a privilege to be part of this network and something so powerful.”
How to open a Steve’s Club in your community
Steve’s Club National Program is changing the lives of youth nationwide through fitness and mentorship, and O2 and the Community Coalition are proud to support their mission to “Strengthen the Nation, One Kid at a Time.” Interested gyms can learn more by visiting the website or joining an Information Session to hear from Steve’s Club athletes, learn how to start a club, and how national program staff can help.
[featured image at top] Tatyana, a Fearless Athletics Steve’s Club athlete, SCNP Board Member, and Youth Advisory Committee Co-Chair, participates in an Olympic Weightlifting workshop at Summer Leadership Camp in Fort Indiantown Gap, PA.