Planet Fitness has donated more than $1 million to endow a new scholarship fund at Philadelphia University in honor of Planet Fitness CEO Chris Rondeau.
The scholarship was announced at the Verizon Philadelphia University Celebration of Innovation benefit by Philadelphia University president Stephen Spinelli Jr. on May 9. The announcement was a surprise to Rondeau.
“Learning about the scholarship was an amazing feeling and truly a surprise of a lifetime,” said Rondeau. “I am incredibly honored by the confidence that our franchise partners have placed in me when they worked with the university to create this scholarship.”
Planet Fitness franchise owners, vendors, friends and family of Rondeau worked with Philadelphia University to establish the scholarship in Rondeau’s name. The $1 million scholarship fund will give priority to families of Planet Fitness franchisees, employees and vendors to obtain a Philadelphia University education.
“I am humbled by the generosity of our franchisees, vendors and friends, and I look forward to meeting the students whose lives this scholarship will affect,” said Rondeau. “Scholarships are important for so many students, and I am honored that through this scholarship we can help students’ educational goals become a reality.”
Rondeau became CEO of Planet Fitness in 2013 after serving as the company’s chief operating officer since 2003.
According to Rondeau, the scholarship represents Planet Fitness’ tight-knit culture. “We consider ourselves a family and it’s one of the things that makes us so successful as a company,” he said. “We are all an army of entrepreneurs working toward the same goal and share the same belief of providing a judgment-free fitness environment at very affordable prices. When talking about our culture we often say, ‘One Team, One Planet,’ and we really mean it.”
Founded in 1992 in Dover, New Hampshire, Planet Fitness has grown to more than 900 locations nationwide.
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Rachel Zabonick-Chonko is the editor-in-chief of Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@peakemedia.com.
