Special Olympics Florida to Benefit from Fitness Studios Fundraiser

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., July 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Five Fort Lauderdale fitness studios are coming together to support local Special Olympics athletes in the first ever event, Fitness for a Cause. Collectively, the studios have aptly named themselves Fitness Row. Four of them – The Barkan Method, Core Contour, OrangeTheory Fitness and Pure Barre – are located in Union Planters Plaza, a newly redeveloped shopping center with a focus on healthy lifestyles. The fifth studio - Sunrise Paddleboards that teaches standup paddle boarding - is located one block away on the Middle River.

Fitness for a Cause aims to bring together the local community. The event will be held at Q Bar Burgers & Blues, 2376 N. Federal Highway, on Thursday, July 23 from 7-9 p.m. For a $25 donation, attendees will receive a Fitness Row punch card to experience one class at each fitness studio, valued at $125. Proceeds from the event will be donated to Special Olympics Florida – Broward County.

"Special Olympics Florida - Broward County is very happy to be the chosen charity. Not only will the event help raise needed funds but will also help bring awareness to the community in Special Olympics," said Steven Stepniewski, vice president of resource development for Special Olympics Florida – Broward County. "Broward County Special Olympics is all about fitness and sports activity, we offer over 22 sports on a year round basis to over 3,100 athletes."

Those who can't attend the event can still donate and receive a Fitness Row punch card by going to https://specialolympicsflorida.org/get-involved/fundraise/broward-fitness-for-a-cause/. Participants who complete each workout will receive bonus offerings from several Union Planters Plaza retailers including Bamboo wellness, GBS The Beauty Store and Hand & Stone Massage.

About Special Olympics

Special Olympics is a global movement that unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sports, every day around the world.  We empower people with intellectual disabilities to become accepted and valued members of their communities, which leads to a more respectful and inclusive society for all.  Using sports as the catalyst and programming around health and education, Special Olympics is fighting inactivity, injustice and intolerance.  Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown to more than 4.4 million athletes in 170 countries. With the support of more than 1.3 million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics delivers 32 Olympic-type sports and more than 81,000 games and competitions throughout the year.  Special Olympics is supported by individuals, foundations and partners, including the Christmas Records Trust, the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics®, The Coca-Cola Company, The Walt Disney Company and ESPN, Lions Clubs International, Mattel, Microsoft, P&G, Bank of America, Essilor Vision Foundation, the B. Thomas Golisano Foundation, Finish Line, The Safeway Foundation, and Safilo Group. Visit Special Olympics at www.specialolympics.org/

About Union Planters Plaza

Union Planters Plaza is ideally located between downtown and residential Fort Lauderdale. EDENS has evolved the center into a true local favorite, where friends, neighbors and families can gather and relax. A thriving Whole Foods Market and Dick's Sporting Goods anchor the 155,000 square foot center. EDENS has redeveloped and expanded the center with a fresh, community-oriented merchandising mix of new retailers including Etiquette Boutique, OrangeTheory Fitness, Piola and Q Bar, and enhanced the neighborhood feel by adding intimate plaza spaces.

About EDENS:

EDENS develops, owns and operates community shopping centers in primary markets across the country. Focusing on innovative development and redevelopment together with key acquisitions in urban areas, the company has built an institutional-quality portfolio of 136 retail centers. EDENS has regional headquarters in Boston, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Miami, Dallas, Houston and Columbia, SC. For additional information about the company and its retail real estate portfolio, please visit www.edens.com.  

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131220/NY36979LOGO 

SOURCE EDENS