Iron Lion Fitness Studio Fundraiser Supports School For Autism Story and Photo by Jessica Gregoire
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ombining fitness and fundraising has become a successful idea for Wellington’s Iron Lion Fitness Studio. Through collaboration with local businesses and assistance from volunteers, the studio raised thousands of dollars to support the Palm Beach School for Autism at its second annual Ryde-a-thon fundraiser April 7. Owners Seth Kaufmann and Mike Bates have built a close relationship with the school through Gen Lane, one of their clients and school parent volunteer. “Gen is best friends with an instructor here and asked, when we first opened, if we wanted to do something to raise money for the school,” Kaufmann recalled. The owners agreed, and enlisted the help of public relations professional and good friend Alexandra De Armas. “I coordinated most of the event,” she said. “The food, raffle items, wrote the press release, and pretty much coordinated the media and instructors.” Last year’s event, which also took place in April to mark Autism Awareness Month, raised more than $5,000, astonishing everyone involved. “We tried not to have any expectations,” Kaufmann said. “With good planning and hard work, it just happened.” From then on, the collaboration between Iron Lion and the Palm Beach School for Autism grew. “We’ve built a really nice relationship with the school, and they’re nice people,” Kaufmann said. “We are just happy to do anything to help them out.”
The Palm Beach School for Autism, a nonprofit charter school in Lake Worth, was Iron Lion Fitness Studio owners Mike Bates and Seth Kaufmann with Alexandra De Armas and Gen Lane. grateful for the donation last year, which assisted in the development of its new facility. “We Beach. “I told them about the fundraiser at my job, and they wanted get minimal funding from the state,” Lane said. “All this money will be going to help out,” Lane said. go to these 250 or so children.” Between Iron Lion Fitness Studio and Saks Fifth Avenue, the Palm Beach The school showed its gratitude by School for Autism received more than dedicating a classroom to Iron Lion $8,000 this year. Fitness Studio. “This money was really important because they didn’t have a Kaufmann and Bates will be visiting the completed school yet,” Kaufmann said. Palm Beach School for Autism to present the check. They have also Iron Lion Fitness ended up naming a received plaques from the school for room in honor of Lane’s daughter their donations. Sami. “She has autism, and since Gen was the force behind the fundraiser, we Iron Lion Fitness Studio offers a variety decided to name it in her daughter’s of health and wellness options, which honor,” Kaufmann said. include indoor cycling, personal training, weight management and yoga. With the preschool, elementary and middle school sections complete, the The RealRyder fitness bikes, not to be Palm Beach School for Autism is now confused with traditional spinning expanding its facility to include space bikes, are one of the studio’s most for a high school program. “This popular services. Unlike spinning bikes, school is so important because, like for which are stationary, RealRyder bikes my daughter, this is their life,” Lane glide and move as the rider moves. said. With such a successful first year, the studio was eager to do it again this year. “We wanted to do even better this year,” Kaufmann said. The event included riders, who rode the studio’s RealRyder fitness bikes as a key part of the fundraiser. Most of the money raised came from a combination of raffles, private donations and the riders. An additional $3,000 came from Lane’s job at Saks Fifth Avenue on Worth Avenue in Palm
Iron Lion Fitness Studio is located at 10660 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 160, near Fresh Market in Wellington. For more information, visit www.ironlionfit.com or call (561) 204-LION.
RYDE FOR AUTISM |wellington the magazine| June 2013
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