My Gym Shines a Spotlight on the Importance of Strong Families and Caring Communities

SHERMAN OAKS, CA--(Marketwire - Nov 7, 2011) - National Family Week, celebrated this year from November 20-26, highlights the importance to children of having strong family ties and a supportive community. My Gym Children's Fitness Center locations encourage community families to celebrate National Family Week this year and every year with activities at home and in their community that help children connect their lives to the lives of people living around them.

"Positive role models, at home and in the community, can have a tremendous positive impact on children," says Matthew Hendison, Chief Marketing & Entertainment Officer for My Gym Enterprises. "Children thrive when they receive love and encouragement from the adults in their lives. National Family Week is a perfect time to involve children in programs and activities that involve caring adults like parents, families and the community at large."

Each year, National Family Week, an initiative of the Alliance for Children and Families, encompasses the Thanksgiving holiday and offers individuals along with community leaders and policymakers an opportunity to schedule events that bring families together for learning and giving. Typical observances might include community forums, resource fairs, volunteer projects, seminars, and awards programs.

Participating My Gym locations will honor National Family Week by offering 20 percent off membership and the cost of first month classes to all new families who join during the week of November 20-26, 2011. "Fitness is a lifestyle, not a program," says Chief Marketing & Entertainment Officer for My Gym Enterprises, Matthew Hendison, "and a family commitment to fitness can create very strong family ties. Our classes help children view fitness as fun and personally fulfilling -- which gives children the self-confidence to participate enthusiastically in family fitness activities."

In 2011, National Family Week aims to shine the spotlight on military families and the organizations that support them. National Family Week organizers encourage families and non profit and volunteer groups to schedule activities to raise awareness about the challenges faced by the families of the nation's service men and women -- whether deployed overseas or serving within the U.S.

"Our military families face unique challenges," says Hendison, "and they need to have a strong support network that they can turn to. National Family Week is the perfect time for community members to identify, support and strengthen local organizations and programs that work to keep our military strong at home and abroad."

The focus of the programs at My Gym is to encourage children to connect with their families and other children in a healthy and supportive way. In the same way, initiatives like National Family Week help families connect with their communities in the spirit of cooperation and understanding. According to Hendison, activities that foster a sense of accomplishment help to build children's self esteem and confidence, which in turn gives children the tools they need to make healthy choices throughout their lives.

"We hope that our My Gym families will use National Family Week as a reason to strengthen their ties to their communities and their families," says Hendison. "It's a great opportunity to set an example for our children about how a sense of community can contribute to a more fulfilling life."

To schedule a free trial class, book a birthday party or for more information about all their programs and schedules, please visit www.mygym.com.

About MY GYM Enterprises
Established in 1983, MY GYM is the #1-ranking fitness center destination for children with 200 locations worldwide, including such international locations as Hong Kong, France and Brazil among others. More than 30 additional locations are planned to open worldwide in the next 12 months. For more than two decades, MY GYM has combined innovative, early physical education/pre-gymnastics classes with state-of-the-art facilities to empower children -- ages 6 weeks to 13 years -- by helping them acquire the skills, confidence and positive self-image needed to become healthy young adults. My Gym's award winning, structured, noncompetitive and age-appropriate classes enhance children's overall physical development through games, music, exercise, sports, gymnastics, puppets, special rides and fun! The children gain strength, balance, coordination, fine and gross motor proficiency, agility, flexibility and social skills. Mymo's Adventures earned the 2006 iParenting Award for Outstanding Children's DVD. The My Gym television show, My Gym At Home airs on BabyFirstTV, a 24/7 commercial-free channel focusing on children's development. My Gym is located on the Web at www.mygym.com. MY GYM is also the home of The Activators, an entertainment troupe comprised of actual MY GYM teachers designed to encourage children with messages of fun and fitness. The Activators is located on the Web at www.theactivators.net.