It’s great when a local business gives back to the community, and even better when that business recognizes a greater need and finds ways to help. Such is the case of Results the Gym, the local chain of fitness centers that has a prominent and popular location at G Street SE. Since it opened, Results has had a steady history of community involvement and philanthropic work. The gym organized a team of 21 people for a relief trip to Sri Lanka after a tsunami decimated the island in 2005. In the coming years Results sent five teams to Biloxi, Mississippi to assist rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Katrina. Last year the gym’s owner hosted a fundraiser for DC Habitat for Humanity. This year, Results has partnered with STROGA (“strength and yoga”) in Adams Morgan to arrange three relief trips to Haiti.
There are three trips being organized through the Results for Haiti program, each two weeks in length. The July trip is already full, but there are openings available on the trips in either the first or second half of the month of August.
Who can participate? Anyone. While Results is coordinating the teams and arranging the logistics, the planned trips are open to anyone interested in participating. Results has partnered with Global Village Network, an international NGO with on-the-ground presence in Haiti. Relief trip participants each pay a programming fee that covers accommodations, ground transportation, translators, etc. while in Haiti, plus the cost of airfare. The fee for these trips is $997 per person plus airfare; Results is working on finding the lowest airfares available for flights to Port-au-Prince. Once volunteers have arrived, a day of orientation awaits but the volunteers then are able to choose the tasks they wish to work on for the two weeks. Currently, participants have the option to assist in providing education while schools are rebuilt, debris removal and construction, information and administration, or medical and counseling tasks (if the volunteer has the appropriate training and background).
If you’ve got time this summer and have the ability to volunteer, there is one more information night coming up at the Dupont Circle Results location on Wednesday, May 26. You can also find out more at www.resultsforhaiti.com or send an email to resultsforhaiti@gmail.com. If you can’t commit to volunteering your time but still want to help out, donations are accepted through the website as well as at the fundraiser coming up June 6 at STROGA. The event includes a brunch and silent auction. All funds raised through Results for Haiti go to defray the costs incurred by trip participants, and any money left is donated directly to Global Village Network.