Planet Fitness Scholarship Programs: Empowering Youth Through Kindness and Fitness

Planet Fitness is more than just a gym; it's a Judgement Free Zone® committed to fostering inclusion and wellbeing. Through its various initiatives, particularly the Judgement Free Generation®, Planet Fitness actively works to increase access to fitness and create an environment where everyone feels like they belong. A key component of this initiative is the provision of scholarships to recognize and support young people who embody the values of kindness, acceptance, and anti-bullying.

The Judgement Free Generation® Initiative

The Judgement Free Generation® is Planet Fitness's signature initiative in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). This multi-year partnership is supported by the Planet Fitness Club Support Center, franchisees, members, team members, and vendors. The initiative focuses on empowering youth through various avenues:

Scholarships: Providing financial assistance to students who promote kindness and inclusion.
Community Grants: Supporting local communities and organizations that align with the Judgement Free Generation® mission.
Trauma-Informed Training: Supporting emotional wellbeing training to address the impact of traumatic experiences on youth.
Access to Fitness: Delivering programs and resources that offer access to fitness, including the installation of mini Judgement Free Zones® in BGCs across the country.

Since 2016, Planet Fitness, along with its franchisees, members, and partners, has contributed over $8.4 million to support anti-bullying and pro-kindness initiatives. This includes funding first-of-its-kind social-emotional skills training for Boys & Girls Clubs of America professionals and youth, which is rooted in a trauma-informed approach.

Judgement Free Generation® Scholarship Details

The Planet Fitness Judgement Free Generation® scholarship recognizes high school teens who actively promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion in their communities. These are the qualities that Planet Fitness and Boys & Girls Clubs of America collectively support.

Key Highlights:

The scholarship program was created to recognize teens who promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.
Since 2017, Planet Fitness has awarded a significant amount in scholarships through this program.
In 2023, Planet Fitness awarded \$250,000 in scholarships.
In 2025, Planet Fitness awarded 50 teens with \$5,000 scholarships, totaling \$250,000 in scholarship funds for the year.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria:

Scholarship recipients are selected through a multi-tiered review process that considers several criteria:

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Personal Essay: Applicants must submit a personal essay demonstrating their commitment to Judgement Free values. For help writing the essay component of this scholarship application, check out guides like "How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay" and "How to Start a Scholarship Essay (With Examples)".
Staff Recommendation: A recommendation from a staff member who can attest to the applicant's character and contributions.
Video Submission: A video showcasing how the applicant actively promotes kindness and acceptance.

These criteria help assess how participants actively promote kindness and acceptance through the demonstration of Judgement Free values.

Notable Winners and Their Stories:

Many recipients have demonstrated exceptional commitment to promoting kindness and inclusion.

Sydney D. from Springfield, Mass., shared that she spreads kindness by living by example, treating everyone with respect, and encouraging others to be happy and live freely.
Uchenna A. from Carson, Calif., expressed the importance of not letting bullying keep anyone down from achieving their full potential. He is now looking forward to continuing his education as a first-generation college student and hopes to continue spreading positivity in the years to come.

These stories exemplify the values that the Planet Fitness Judgement Free Generation® Scholarship seeks to recognize and reward.

High School Summer Pass Program

In addition to the Judgement Free Generation® Scholarship, Planet Fitness offers the High School Summer Pass program. This program allows students ages 14-19 to work out for free at any Planet Fitness location during the summer.

Key Details:

The program typically runs from May 15 through August 31.
Students must register to obtain a digital key for access.
Parent or guardian consent is required for those under 18.
Participants are entered into a scholarship sweepstakes.

The High School Summer Pass Sweepstakes is open to students between the ages of 14 and 19. Students are invited to register for a High School Summer Pass, which will allow them to workout at the Planet Fitness location of their choice for free, all summer long. All participants in this free summer program are entered into a scholarship sweepstakes. A high school leaderboard will keep track of how many students from each school sign up for the Summer Pass program. To make things fair, schools are organized by tiers, which are designated by the number of students that attend. and Canada at the end of the summer. Winning schools will be able to use the grant to purchase new athletic equipment, complete field renovations, and supply physical education, health, and wellness classes.

Planet Fitness and Boys & Girls Clubs of America: A Decade of Partnership

Planet Fitness and Boys & Girls Clubs of America celebrated the 10-year anniversary of their partnership. Planet Fitness has contributed more than \$12 million since 2016.

In 2025, Planet Fitness and Boys & Girls Clubs of America partnered to:

Award 50 teens with \$5,000 Judgement Free Generation® scholarships, recognizing their exceptional dedication to promoting inclusion, kindness, and acceptance in their communities, totaling \$250,000 in scholarship funds for the year. Fifty percent of this year’s scholarship winners represent first-generation college students. To date, Planet Fitness has awarded more than $1.65 million in scholarships to 330 teens nationwide.
Expanded access to fitness resources through the building of new mini-Judgement Free Zone® fitness spaces featuring high quality Planet Fitness equipment, in Boys & Girls Clubs throughout multiple states. Planet Fitness now has more than 50 mini-Judgement Free Zones® established across the nation.
Become the official Giving Tuesday match partner for Boys & Girls Clubs of America, matching donations dollar-for-dollar up to $75,000 and helping power the organization’s most successful Giving Tuesday ever-nearly $400,000 raised, a nearly 30% increase year over year, to expand access to meals, mentors, and opportunities for young people nationwide.

McCall Gosselin, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, stated that raising over a million dollars this year for Boys & Girls Clubs of America is a testament to their shared commitment of enhancing the lives of the next generation.

Jim Clark, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, noted that Planet Fitness has been an outstanding partner in helping young people reach their full potential.

Planet Fitness: More Than Just Fitness

Founded in 1992 in Dover, NH, Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the world by number of members and locations. As of December 31, 2025, Planet Fitness had approximately 20.8 million members and 2,896 clubs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, Panama, Mexico, Australia, and Spain. The Company's mission is to enhance people's lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment, which we call the Judgement Free Zone®. Approximately 90% of Planet Fitness clubs are owned and operated by independent businessmen and women.

Additional Student Benefits and Discounts

Beyond the Planet Fitness-specific programs, students can find various benefits and discounts across different sectors.

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Entertainment: Amazon Prime offers student discounts, including free delivery and access to Prime Video. Bundled entertainment platforms are available at discounted rates.
Retail: Retailers like Shein provide student discounts.
Technology: Discounts on tech gadgets are available at retailers like HP.
Cosmetics: e.l.f. offers a discount to college students.

It's always a good idea for students to inquire about potential discounts before making any purchases.

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