Ahmad, an 18-year-old musician, performed live playing guitar in front of a packed audience at the Logan Chiropractic College auditorium last summer. Ahmad never imagined himself in this role, and his performance was a result of determination and dedication to the guitar lessons offered at Lift for Life Gym.
According to Erin Vlasaty, the grants and board relations coordinator at Lift for Life Gym, the organization has “given him a chance to realize his skills and talents [while] focusing his educational goals to pursue higher education.”
Ahmad is one of many who took advantage of the opportunity to realize his skills and talents through the Lift for Life Gym vision. The gym, located on the north side of St. Louis, has been serving at-risk children since 1988. Lift for Life Gym began by offering a fitness center as a haven to grow the emotional, mental and physical aspects of young people and keep them off the street.
Today, Lift for Life Gym has evolved into a full-service youth activity center that offers fitness services, in addition to tutoring, mentoring, cooking, gardening and life skills programs.
“We’re really making a difference,” said Vlasaty.
One of the programs offered is the summer day camp, which was partially funded by proceeds from Old Newsboys Day last year. The gym’s programs have evolved over the years to include a sponsored reading club, gardening curriculum and tennis lessons tailored to abilities of children 8-18 years old. The camp, which operates five days a week from mid-May to mid-August, focuses on fitness-related activities and other undertakings that work to “build character, physical skills and [maintain] being active [as well as] building skill sets and talents,” said Vlasaty.
Donations are essential for Lift for Life Gym to continue operating. Annual fundraising events include City Mayhem and the St. Louis Microfest. Thanks to the well-attended events, “outreach [has been] more effective,” said Vlasaty.
Despite the numerous fundraising events, the organization is still in need of help, Vlasaty said. The coordinator stresses that volunteering or participating in Lift for Life Gym’s sponsored events benefits the community as a whole. Donations of equipment — such as treadmills, gym-related equipment and workout gear — are always appreciated, said Vlasaty. In the end, the gym will assist anyone willing to lend a hand, even if you’re not quite sure how to contribute.
“It’s about keeping kids focused on their futures,” said Vlasaty.
Brooklyn Bass, 16, is a junior at University City High School.
Lift for Life Gym
314-227-7300
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