From creating safe havens for women, to spreading the word about new ways to exercise, these women are making fitness a more positive experience for all.
Our winners (five individuals and two dynamic duos) are women in the fitnesis space who are really working to make an impact in the industry. We’re certainly inspired by the work that they’re doing, and we hope they inspire you, too.
1. Julie Ann Kelly cofounder of Haymakers for Hope
Haymakers for Hope is a nonprofit that fundraises for cancer research, awareness, survivorship, and care, all through amateur boxing events mostly in Boston, L.A., and New York City. A boxer herself, Kelly wanted to find a way to fight cancer (she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma soon after graduating) and give back at the same time, so she cofounded the organization in 2010. As of the date of publication, the organization has raised over 7 million dollars since its inception, and Kelly is now cancer-free.
2. Alison Désir founder of Harlem Run
Désir founded Harlem Run in 2013 to empower the people of Harlem to get out and get fit, no matter their abilities. The group meets twice a week in Harlem and regularly has up to 250 attendees, but the movement extends far beyond that, Désir says. “The impact of Harlem Run is vast—hundreds of weekly runs hosted twice a week for four years, thousands of collective pounds lost, hundreds of friendships and romantic relationships established, countless people whose mental health and sense of self have improved, and one incredibly powerful community, made up of former strangers.”
3. Liz Kunz CEO of girls on the run
The mission of Girls on the Run is to “inspire girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident,” and since 2006, Kunz has been working to do just that. The running groups meet twice a week to teach young girls life skills, and work with them on community impact projects to help them learn about setting and achieving life goals. They have a goal of serving two million girls across the country by 2021.
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