OUR HISTORY

Empowering Girls Across Generations:

Movemeant's Journey from Inspiration to Impact

Discover Movemeant's transformative journey empowering girls through fitness and wellness. From founding the Dare to Bare charity fitness festival to launching impactful programs like Girl FWD and Meant to Move Grants, Movemeant has reshaped how we view fitness, self-worth, and community support. Explore our story of resilience and empowerment today! Read more here.

Let's embark on a journey through the impactful years of Movemeant's history, starting from the very beginning.

2012:

- Movemeant began its transformative journey with a vision to redefine the narrative surrounding fitness and self-worth.

- Introduced Dare to Bare, the largest body-positive charity fitness festival in the country, raising over $300,000 and empowering 5,000 women.

- Sparked a nationwide dialogue on body confidence through physical movement, shifting the focus from working out for self-acceptance to celebrating existing worth, strength, confidence, and power through fitness.

2015:

- Movemeant continued to empower girls through collaborative efforts with organizations like CycleKids, The Friendship Club, and iSurf School. Check out a few of the organizations we’ve supported below!

- Expanded Dare to Bare events to multiple cities, reaching thousands of participants and generating over 10 million media impressions.

- Provided financial grants to nearly two dozen local health and fitness programs, benefiting 10,000 women.

  • CycleKids

    Movemeant proudly supported CycleKids in hosting a bike build event at schools, extending to a potential program at Girls Prep in the Bronx, NYC. This event provided an exceptional opportunity for these girls to interact with professional cyclists from New York City, igniting excitement and inspiration.

    To facilitate this meaningful experience, Movemeant covered the costs associated with shipping bikes and helmets to the schools. Additionally, certified Specialized bike mechanics were enlisted to dedicate four hours at the school, ensuring the safety and quality of the bikes following the children's assembly with volunteers.

  • The Friendship Club

    Movemeant proudly supported The Friendship Club's summer enrichment program, recognizing the critical importance of providing positive experiences and guidance for adolescent girls during their vacation break. This program offers a valuable opportunity for girls to stay engaged, active, and learning, helping to steer them away from unhealthy behaviors during a vulnerable time.

    With the grant funds from Movemeant, The Friendship Club was able to cover activity fees and transportation for their 3-night, 4-day High Sierra experience. This immersive outdoor adventure provided 25-30 girls with a range of enriching activities, including kayaking, swimming, paddleboarding, yoga, hiking, archery, and culturally relevant discussions on body image around the campfire at night.

  • isurf School

    Movemeant proudly supported iSurf School's Watergirl Program, standing firm in our commitment to breaking barriers and empowering women through sports like surfing. This initiative offers 100% free surf lessons to at-risk and disadvantaged girls in urban, disenfranchised neighborhoods across Southern California.

    With Movemeant’s financial grant, iSurf School could cover the costs of transportation, instruction, and surf equipment, including surfboards and wetsuits. This ensured that financial constraints did not obstruct these girls' access to the ocean and the empowering experience of surfing.

    With our support, iSurf School was able to provide over 75 individual surf lessons to girls, nurturing their confidence, resilience, and sense of empowerment. Additionally, family fun days allowed these girls to share their newfound skills with loved ones, strengthening community bonds and creating cherished memories.

  • Wendy Suzuki's Neuroscience Research

    Movemeant proudly supported Wendy Suzuki's neuroscience research laboratory at New York University, which focuses on understanding the impact of physical exercise on the brain's anatomy, physiology, and function.

    The laboratory has a two-fold mission: first, to determine the optimal exercise "prescription" that enhances mood, memory, attention, and creativity for different age groups and fitness levels, with a particular emphasis on improving academic performance in college-age students. Second, the laboratory aims to elucidate the precise mechanisms by which exercise influences brain function.

    Movemeant contributed to Wendy’s groundbreaking research that explores the powerful connection between movement and cognitive health.

  • One World Play Project

    Movemeant supported the #AllGirlsCanPlay Initiative by One World Play Project, which focuses on empowering girls through the power of play. The One World Play Project provides ultra-durable soccer balls to schools and communities in need. With Movemeant’s financial assistance, One World Play Project was able to distribute 80 balls to locations across the country, impacting 2,400 girls.

  • The Duchess Ride

    Movemeant supported The Duchess's Ride, an organization dedicated to inspiring girls to break barriers and excel in all aspects of life. Their programs focus on mentorship and participation in board sports like snowboarding, skateboarding, and surfing to foster mental, emotional, and structural growth.

    Movemeant assisted by covering various expenses, including insurance costs, program activities, lift tickets, snowboard gear, food/snacks, rental space for after-school programs, and creative supplies for brainstorming sessions with kids.

2016-2019:

- Movemeant launched initiatives like #ShePlaysWeWin and Generation Confident, empowering over 250 girls internationally.

- Piloted the #BellyJelly revolution, promoting body positivity and self-acceptance.

- Expanded Generation Confident curriculum to 36 middle schools, directly impacting 500 girls.

#SHEPLAYSWEWIN

In 2016, Movemeant initiated a partnership with acclaimed photographer Christin Rose, the driving force behind the #ShePlaysWeWin project.

In its first year, the Movemeant Foundation allocated $20,000 in financial grants, empowering more than 20 girls worldwide through sports, fitness, and movement, fostering confidence and self-esteem.

From 2016 to 2019, Movemeant extended over $250,000 in financial grants to support over 250 girls internationally.

The Movemeant Foundation's #ShePlaysWeWin grant played a pivotal role in providing essential financial support to girls in economically disadvantaged communities, where health-risk behaviors are prevalent. These funds were aimed at uncovering, supporting, and documenting the transformative journey of girls as they embraced physical activity, often for the first time.

Targeting girls aged between 8 to 16, residing in underserved communities with limited access to health, fitness, and sports programs, these grants were instrumental in fostering new participation or expanding existing involvement in sports and physical activities.

Originally known as the #ShePlaysWeWin grant, this initiative has evolved into what we now call the Meant to Move grant, continuing our commitment to empowering girls through movement and sports.

#SHEPLAYSWEWIN GRANT RECIPIENTS

GENERATION CONFIDENT

Movemeant’s impact extended beyond financial contributions. In 2016, Movemeant piloted and expanded our body-positive middle school curriculum and lunchtime program, Generation Confident, across Title I schools in San Francisco County.

Generation Confident was meticulously crafted with the aim of empowering middle school girls to cultivate positive body image, self-esteem, and self-worth through a 14-week curriculum enriched with movement and facilitated peer-to-peer discussions led by a Movemeant facilitator on crucial self-development topics.

During lunchtime sessions, girls gathered with a dedicated Movemeant facilitator who guided them through a variety of physical activities, including dance, yoga, and body strengthening exercises. These activities were complemented by facilitated peer-to-peer conversations covering essential topics related to positive self-image and body positivity.

Through Generation Confident, Movemeant is committed to promoting healthy lifestyles, enhancing self-image and body confidence, and nurturing a supportive environment where girls can flourish.

Participating schools:

Herbert Hoover middle school

Francisco Middle School

Moreland Middle School

A.P. Giannini Middle School

Anna Yates TK-8

Latimer Elementary School

Aptos Middle

Gateway Middle

Gateway High School

El Dorado Middle

OMI College Preparatory Academy

Marina Middle School

Mission Dolores Academy

James Lick Middle School

Norwood Middle School

Washington Heights Middle School

Presidio Middle School

Roosevelt, Theodore Middle School

Oakland Military Academy

Fernando Rivera Intermediate School 1

Fernando Rivera Intermediate School 2

Thomas R. Pollicita Middle School

Ben Franklin Middle School

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Elementary

Robertson Middle School

And more.

#SHEPLAYSWEWIN GRANT RECIPIENTS

#BELLYJELLY REVOLUTION

In 2016, Movemeant started the #bellyjelly revolution. And our video went viral…

2020-2022:

- Movemeant navigated the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic with impactful initiatives such as the COVID-19 Relief Grant Program and the Wellness For All Grant Program.

- Forged transformative partnerships with leading brands like Athleta, Reebok, and Anytime Fitness, collectively impacting the lives of 250,000 girls across the nation.

- Introduced the YogaSix High School Summer Pass program and collaborated with Real Essentials and Birchbox to champion body positivity and inclusivity.

2020:

Amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Movemeant rose to the occasion by launching several impactful initiatives aimed at supporting the health and wellness community.

1. COVID-19 Relief Grant Program

2. Wellness For All Grant Program

3. Stronger For Good

With the unwavering support of esteemed partners such as Athleta, Reebok, Light + Fit, Slack, and Champion Sports, Movemeant allocated over $208,150 to deserving grant recipients in 2020 alone.

These grants made a significant impact on individuals, schools, and community organizations, positively influencing the lives of at least 250,000 girls.

Since 2020, Movemeant has proudly disbursed a total of $400,000 through our grant programs, including Meant to Move, BIPOC fitness, and COVID Relief grants, empowering over hundreds of thousands of girls.

2023 - 2024

Movemeant successfully launched our newest program, Girl FWD, a virtual coaching course tailored for middle and high school girls.

Learn more here.

Support our mission to transform the lives of girls nationwide by getting involved today!

PARTNERS