The Body Empowerment N' Children's Health (BENCH) Initiative
The Body Empowerment N' Children's Health (BENCH) Initiative
MISSION
The BENCH Initiative is a student-led nonprofit dedicated to tackling the physical and mental health challenges faced by youth in under-resourced communities. These health issues—often worsened by socioeconomic barriers—are driven by limited access to safe spaces, fitness resources, and supportive environments.
To bridge this gap, BENCH fully covers gym memberships so students can access commercial gyms at no cost. We also offer personal training, fitness programs, and meal plans. For mental health support, BENCH partners with Agents of Hope Training and Information Center (AHTIC) to provide free counseling services to youth in need.
Our mission is to give every young person the opportunity to take control of their health and build a better future—empowering our youth.
Our Services
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We offer youth 18 and under the opportunity to have their gym membership for a commercial gym (e.g. Planet Fitness Black Card) to be entirely paid for by BENCH. Click here to view the eligibility criteria for the membership program
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BENCH offers clients personalized training, available both online and in-person. Personal training is exclusively available to individuals accepted into the BENCH program. For more details, please review the eligibility criteria.
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BENCH provides comprehensive, 6- to 12-month fitness programs for eligible and accepted clients. Our expert trainers tailor and adjust these programs to ensure their feasibility and guarantee optimal results, with workouts designed to focus on YOU.
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Our nutrition plans are designed to supplement your fitness journey with balanced, effective dieting. Clients opting for this service will work with experts skilled in nutrition and meal prepping. After all, as the saying goes, "You are what you eat!"
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Our goal is to provide overall health and fitness services, including addressing mental health struggles. We provide mental health counseling through our 501(c)(3)-sponsor 'Agents of Hope Training and Information Center.' We will connect you with licensed professionals to mitigate stressors present in the lives of the youth we aim to support. For more information, please contact: aebrahim@ahtic.org.
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We will provide all accepted clients with a free space for fitness training, established through generous donations from RYSE Fitness: 8160 McCormick Blvd Skokie IL 60077
Testimonials and Quotes
“Everyone should be allowed the opportunity to pursue a healthier quality of life, no matter the circumstances. Through a synergy of social enterprising and fitness engagement, we aim to deliver exactly that.”
Anzar Ebrahim - Founder and CEO
Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign
“From nutrition workshops to backend work in strategizing equitable outreach, BENCH has changed the way I define social business with its unique commitment and selflessness. The organization has prevailed in achieving its mission of prioritizing physical health as a right that all youth deserve to have access to.”
Ayan Sayani - Operations Consultant
Wharton College of Business at the University of Pennsylvania
“BENCH empowers youth by combining physical fitness with mental wellness, offering them tools to build healthy habits for life. Through workshops, mental health events, and gym access, BENCH ensures underserved youth can strengthen both their bodies and minds.”
Layan Abdulkadir - COO
Depaul University
“Being part of BENCH motivated me to become more active and involved with my physical health. I also received access to unique opportunities that not only supported my fitness but my recovery process!”
Emma - Former BENCH Client
“Underserved populations, including racial/ethnic minorities, individuals with low socioeconomic status, and individuals with physical disabilities, are less likely to engage in sufficient moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and are thus at increased risk of morbidity and mortality.”
MVPA is associated with the prevention of chronic diseases and premature mortality (Source: https://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/fulltext/2011/07000/quantity_and_quality_of_exercise_for_developing.26.aspx)
After adjustment, respondents living in low SES areas were 36% less likely to undertake vigorous activity. While they were more likely to walk for transport, this was not statistically significant (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 0.98-1.64), nor were other SES differences in walking for recreation and walking as recommended. (Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12460528/)
“Youth studies show that living in a neighborhood of low SES is associated with lower levels of MVPA (Masoumi, 2017, Molina-García et al., 2017, Ding et al., 2011, Sallis et al., 2018, Villanueva et al., 2016, Janssen et al., 2006). This may be due to unequal distributions of physical activity resources. For example, recreational facilities, YMCAs, walking trails, and parks are often more readily available or of higher quality in neighborhoods of higher SES than those of lower SES (McGrath et al., 2016, Gordon-Larsen et al., 2006, Koohsari et al., 2017)”
Partners and Collaborators
Contact Us
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