She takes flight
https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-bird-flying-in-the-sky-9144661/
Milestones and Memories; Today is a big day.
Five and a half years ago I had an idea that sparked inside my heart.
I wanted a place to find mentorship, to find other women in support of women, to find a neutral ground to relate and build relationships. With the help of many fierce women in fitness, June 1st 2017 WIFA opened for membership.
Sitting at my kitchen counter eating dinner, I remember watching the website, seeing the first few members join, the energy rush that came with creating a mission driven organization that so clearly resonated with many women in fitness.
The first time we hosted a virtual meet up, we shared about the power of LinkedIn, how we could all enhance our efforts to have a stronger digital presence.
I remember the way my body felt the first time I saw another woman succeed because of a relationship that came from her WIFA connections, the memories of meeting women I had looked up to for decades and receiving hugs from legends that had created the path I was now walking on.
I’ll never forget the personal choices my family made so that I could work in unique ways to support WIFA’s mission, the number of times I did a fundraiser pitch while also breastfeeding, the number of days in a row and months and years that I woke up every day with a new WIFA idea.
The day that the co-founders of LEAD came to myself and the WIFA team to spearhead mentorship 2.0 project, which became our first program. The privilege of working side by side with fellow women in the fitness industry to create what we have built. Employees, contractors, ambassadors, board members, champions, podcast guests and bloggers.
All of these accomplishments, relationships and milestones bring us to this moment in time.
This is the moment where WIFA takes its next steps, it is this moment that she rises to her next milestone.
I can not think of a more fitting organization to watch over her next summit, ACE, thank you for the years of support you have given WIFA. You said YES when others said no. You have understood our mission since the very beginning. We trust you with the precious gift of global support for women in fitness.
Thank you for helping WIFA soar, thank you for saying yes, again.
Let this be a new beginning, the next chapter of WIFA growth. I feel blessed and humbled to have been part of the WIFA beginnings, thank you to everyone that has helped us get to this important milestone.
Press release complements of Club Industry: ///
The Women In Fitness Association (WIFA) has transferred its business and programmatic assets to the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the two organizations announced on Nov. 14.
ACE will deliver all WIFA programs including WIFA LEAD, Writers Academy and Speakers Academy. These programs, designed to elevate women in the fitness industry with the knowledge, skills and expertise to rise into leadership positions, will be managed in ACE’s Community Health and Wellness Services department.
Because both groups are non-profits, no monetary exchange occurred for the transfer, but ACE absorbed WIFA, including all its financial obligations and a small operating budget that allows for the singular employee of WIFA to stay employed, according to Lindsey Rainwater, who founded WIFA.
Rainwater dissolved the organization as part of the process.
“Supporting women in fitness has been my primary goal since founding WIFA in 2017,” Rainwater told Club Industry in an email. “Since its inception, WIFA has been a non-profit. As such, the board governed this transition to give WIFA the support of a larger organization looking after the mission continuing to flourish.”
Rainwater resigned her paid role in July due to budget constraints, and at that time, the board voted to pursue a deal with ACE to protect WIFA’s mission.
Rainwater will continue on the WIFA board of directors, and all the board members will collaborate with ACE as a volunteer advisory panel to ensure the integrity of WIFA’s programs, she said.
The two organizations have worked together in the past, most recently in 2021 when ACE and WIFA partnered to deliver WIFA Growth Grants, a scholarship that provided more than 1,100 current ACE certified professionals the opportunity to build and grow their careers with a one-year WIFA membership. ACE also had been providing credits for the 13-week WIFA LEAD (Leadership through Elevation, Awareness and Discovery) program as well as WIFA's Writers Academy and Speakers Academy.
“ACE is grateful that WIFA chose our organization to deliver their continuing education programs and continue their impactful work,” said Scott Goudeseune, ACE chief executive officer. “As part of ACE’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, we are honored to champion women in our industry and do our best to support women exercise professionals or health coaches.”
According to a recent report analyzing U.S. Census data, women make up 58 percent of the recreation and fitness workforce, but only earn 86 cents to every dollar earned by men in the same occupational role. Additionally, women only make up 29 percent of senior leadership positions globally (e.g., CEO, CFO, COO, CIO, CMO). These data highlight the importance of uplifting women in fitness.
“I look forward to the future where ACE’s support and delivery of WIFA’s programs helps women in fitness flourish for decades to come,” Rainwater said.