Will & Jada Smith Family Foundation Launches the Fitbit x WILL Book Club (WBC) “Read and Run Challenge”
The WBC Read and Run Challenge is a global literacy and fitness campaign designed to engage WBC members in a challenge to deepen their love of reading through fitness
LOS ANGELES – (Dec. X, 2021) – The WILL Book Club (WBC), an initiative of the Will & Jada Smith Family Foundation (WJSFF), announced today the launch of the Fitbit x WILL Book Club Read and Run Challenge, a global literacy and fitness campaign designed to engage WBC members in a challenge to deepen their love of reading and engage in healthy life changing behaviour through fitness. For this partnership with Fitbit, WBC is integrating both fitness and literacy by gifting close to 4,000 Fitbits and copies of the book “WILL” to WBC members.
Will Smith has long believed that two skills are necessary for young people on their path to lifelong success – developing a love of reading (the acquisition of knowledge) and being committed to running (developing a spirit of perseverance and good health).
Between November 7th, 2021 and March 31st, 2022, the WBC members will come together weekly to read , at least, 1 chapter of “WILL” as a group and participate in a fitness activity, while utilizing their Fitbits luxe trackers. The clubs have the freedom to mix it up every week but together the groups create a community, bringing to life Will’s themes of reading and running.
To kick off the challenge and to honor Will’s grandmother, Gigi, who believed in “leaving everything better because you touched it” – WBC organized 5 global community service events at each WILL book tour stop. WBC club members gathered to donate books, Fitbits, and fresh food to community members while also cleaning and beautifying their communities across Philadelphia, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and London.
“We are so proud to be partnering with Fitbit on this fitness and literacy initiative. Their commitment to making health and wellness accessible to all communities deeply aligns with our long term work at WJSFF.” – Jana Babatunde-Bey, President and CEO, WJSFF
The Fitbit x WBC Read and Run Challenge is supported by an array of global and local organizational partners such as: The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation, Global Citizen, Americorps, The My Brothers Keeper’s Alliance, CAA Foundation’s READY SET Read initiative, REFORM Alliance, The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, The American Federation of Teachers, The Brompton Bike NYC community, The Felix Project – UK, Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc., Phi Beta Sigma, Inc., Miles College, Carnegie Hall, SoLa I Can Foundation, Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village, Winning Strategies, Herrendorf Family Foundation, MENTOR California and the NYC Young Men’s Initiative.
About the WILL Book Club
The Will & Jada Smith Family Foundation (WJSFF) has launched the ‘WILL” Book Club, (WBC) a global social impact campaign built around the messages of empowerment within Will’s first book “WILL”. The purpose of the WBC is to transform the path of young adults (ages 18+) around the world—deepening their love of reading, culture, self-expression, self-healing, and self-awareness.
About WJSFF
The Will & Jada Smith Family Foundation (WJSFF) is a non-profit organization that sits at the convergence of philanthropy, media and social impact. WJSFF is an incubator and accelerator that ignites the next generation of big ideas, cutting-edge artists, thought leaders, change-makers and social innovators. Together with grantees and partners, WJSFF invests in organizations and initiatives that empower traditionally overlooked communities and affect real change. For more information, please visit www.wjsff.org
About Fitbit
Fitbit helps people lead healthier, more active lives by empowering them with data, inspiration and guidance to reach their goals. Fitbit designs products and experiences that track and provide motivation for everyday health and fitness. Fitbit products are carried in approximately 39,000 retail stores and in 100+ countries around the globe. Fitbit’s diverse line of innovative and popular productsof smartwatches, Fitbit Luxe™, Fitbit Charge 5™, Fitbit Charge 4™, Fitbit Inspire 2™, Fitbit Ace 3™ trackers and Fitbit Aria Air smart scale. The Fitbit platform delivers personalized experiences, insights and guidance through leading software and interactive tools, including the Fitbit app, and Fitbit OS for smartwatches. Fitbit’s paid subscription service, Fitbit Premium, provides advanced analytics and actionable guidance in the Fitbit app to help you reach your health and fitness goals. Fitbit Premium + Health Coaching provides one-on-one virtual coaching with expert health coaches and personalized plans based on your Fitbit data. Fitbit Health Solutions develops health and wellness solutions designed to help increase engagement, improve health outcomes, and drive a positive return for employers, health plans and health systems.
Fitbit and the Fitbit logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fitbit in the U.S. and other countries. Additional Fitbit trademarks can be found www.fitbit.com/legal/trademark-list. Third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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