Fitbit Launches FitForGood To Encourage Exercise

Exercise for a cause with Fitbit’s FitForGood

By Lulu Chang November 14, 2015

New Year’s Resolutions are still about a month and a half in the making, but if you need encouragement to get started on your fitness goals a bit early, Fitbit is here to help. Until November 20, you can take part in FitForGood, described as “a charitable platform inviting Fitbit fans to get fit for a good cause.” Anyone with a FitBit account can participate and take part in the easiest charitable event ever — simply walking to accumulate points for one of three national non-profits: The American Diabetes Association, The American Heart Association and National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The setup is simple — Fitbit-ers just have to choose one of the three organizations to support by way of walking. From November 9 until the 20th, each and every step they take counts towards their chosen charity’s team total, and at the end of the initiative, the nonprofit that has garnered the most steps in its favor will receive $500,000, courtesy of FitBit. Second place will receive $350,000, and third will bring home $150,000, for a total of $1 million donated to health organizations across the United States.

“The work that each of these three organizations does is so important to our country and closely aligns with our mission as a company, which is to give people the tools to help them live healthier, more active lives,” said James Park, Fitbit Co-Founder and CEO. “By helping people see how small changes can add up to big results, Fitbit makes the path toward health and fitness fun, engaging, and sustainable. Like we did with FitForFood earlier this year, we’re encouraging all of our users to get active and do something good for themselves while providing an opportunity to give back at the same time.”

The nearly two-week long challenge will have a bit of additional support from Fitbit Ambassador Julianne Hough. And if getting into Julianne-type shape doesn’t motivate you to move, you might as well never leave your couch again. The dancer turned singer, who made her name as the two-time champion of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” is new to the Fitbit family, but no less dedicated to the cause.

“FitForGood struck me as such an engaging, unique way to get people up and moving in support of three incredible causes,” Hough said, in a related statement. “Growing up as a dancer, health and fitness have always been at the core of my lifestyle and I’m excited to be sharing that passion with Fitbit’s fans, encouraging them to move more for good this month.”

So get moving. And if your own health isn’t motivation enough, do it for the charities.

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