About Us
History
A World Fit For Kids! (WFIT) began in the wake of the 1992 Los Angeles Riots as a partnership between LA-based health clubs, the fitness industry, and an elementary school. The riots were a dramatic reminder of what can happen when people feel they are living without power or hope.
Publisher Camille Harris decided to do something about it, and in 1993 she created the Fitness Alliance of Los Angeles. The Alliance set out to help LA’s inner-city youth feel good about themselves and the future. It operated by bringing professional fitness instructors into the school, where they led physical education, wellness and self-esteem sessions in place of physical education classes that had been eliminated from the curriculum.
Normandie Nigh stepped up as Executive Director in 1994. Under her direction, the Alliance transitioned from in-school programming to afterschool programming, and pioneered a training model through which high school students coach younger students. This unique model would eventually receive the 2007 Gold Medal from the California Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports for “positively impacting the physical activity and fitness levels of California’s children and youth.” The consistent positive results that LA Fit achieved made it clear that this innovative approach to youth development offered life-changing benefits for kids and communities, and the organization set its sights on growth.
In 1997, actor Kevin Sorbo signed on as celebrity spokesperson, and LA Fit for Kids became WFIT. In 1999, WFIT formed a successful partnership with Beyond the Bell, the division of Los Angeles Unified School District that oversees the district’s before and after school programs.
In 2007, WFIT adopted an expansion plan to rapidly reach thousands of children and youth by passing along knowledge and expertise through a network of trainers who, in turn, share it with service providers who work directly with kids.
Join the Movement!
Create a better world…A World Fit For Kids! Join the movement to create positive change in your community by making a tax-deductible donation to invest in the health, success and well-being of all young people.
