PAYING IT FORWARD... BIGTIME
AFFILIATES IN DISTRESS
Many CrossFit Affiliates around the world are suffering – many have closed temporarily and far too many have closed permanently. We want to help affiliate gyms by raising funds to pay for fines or fees to keep their businesses open and part of the CrossFit community. Affiliates need our help now!
PAY IT FORWARD
Recently, Diablo CrossFit was blessed with an amazing GoFundMe campaign started by our community to help us with our fight to remain open in our County & State. It blew up! So, we’re going to pay it forward to other Affiliates who may be in a similar situation. And we’re asking Affiliate owners who have pulled through already, CrossFit Athletes and Affiliate community members to step up and help keep affiliates open and affiliated with CrossFit.
NO RELIEF… YET
There may be Federal aid coming within the next several weeks, but many gyms are in financial crisis now. And, the amount available and process for application are unknowns. We want to help affiliates in need right now!
THE LONG ROAD TO FULL RECOVERY
While some businesses may “bounce back” from the effects of the pandemic, gyms may take much longer, especially CrossFit gyms. Affiliates lost members during the first wave of shutdowns. Then a few weeks later, affiliates were severely impacted by a terrible public relations crisis at CrossFit. Finally, many States and Counties imposed more lockdowns on gyms – taking the wind out of the sails of recovery. The result of the shut downs has been a significant loss of members, major damage to the brand, and a new public perception that gyms are dangerous.
Affiliate owners start their gyms out of a passion for helping others through CrossFit. Most have less than 150 members and make just enough to pay their bills and take care of their families. Losing 25%, 50% or more members overnight represents a significant loss of income and in many cases, an overwhelming obstacle on the road to recovery. Our experience has been that many members who left do not plan to return immediately, and some will never return.
For most affiliates, incrementally adding members takes months and a significant investment of capital. Adding new members with limited or constrained operating capacity, and likely higher operating costs, will be incredibly challenging.
HELP WITH FINES OR FEES
Knowing that Diablo has help with our potential fines has been a significant confidence booster for us. We want to do the same for other affiliates that are in need of financial help – maybe with fines or fees. If we can take a little off their plate, it might be the key to their survival.
Thank you!
Craig & Yvonne Howard & the Diablo CrossFit family
