The Beachbody Foundation has committed $1 million dollars to Future Ties, a Chicago-based non-profit started by Chicago Policewoman Jennifer Maddox, to help support low-income families by providing after school and summer programs for their children. The donation is being facilitated by our close working relationship with GO Campaign.
The million dollars will be allocated to helping officer Maddox expand her current program, which she currently runs from a basement that inhibits the programming options and capacity. Step one will be converting an empty 25,000-square-foot building into a spacious recreation and wellness center to give Chicago’s South Side youth access to safe after school and summer programs to learn about healthy eating and nutrition, an indoor basketball court and gym for the children to play sports without concerns of neighborhood violence and other threats, as well as mental health counseling and wellness classes to teach families how to cope with trauma and manage their stress, anxiety, and PTSD.
Likewise, the Beachbody Foundation is helping Future Ties organize a business plan, advisory board, and local support to execute the plans for long term success and self-sufficiency.
With the planned developments, the center will play a vital role in changing lives of Chicago’s youth, as childhood obesity in the city is at a higher rate compared to children nationally. This is an issue only made worse by the pandemic, as children have been getting less physical exercise due to lack of a safe space for children to move around and play.
The commitment was marked by a celebration in conjunction with the debut of The Beachbody Company on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BODY” and the ceremonial ringing of the opening bell on June 28th, 2021. At the same time, Officer Maddox and members of the Southside Chicago community and the Beachbody team celebrated by “ringing the bell” at the same time, a moment that was exciting and emotional for many in attendance.
