"Get Fit San Francisco" lets city employees pump it up with membership savings form 24 Hour Fitness; the Honorable Willie L. Brown Jr. is the first employee to enroll.

PLEASANTON, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--May 29, 1997--The City of San Francisco and 24 Hour Fitness have joined forces to create "Get Fit San Francisco," an innovative partnership to help city employees shape up and lead healthy lifestyles.

"Get Fit San Francisco," which provides 24 Hour Fitness club memberships for city and county employees and their families/domestic partners, is designed to encourage employees to lead healthy lives by eating well and exercising regularly.

The partnership was announced today at the 24 Hour Fitness Potrero Hill club by Mayor Willie Brown, 49er football great Roger Craig, and Craig Pepin-Donat, president Northwest Division of 24 Hour Fitness. After the announcement, Roger Craig took Mayor Brown through a brief training session on the new equipment at the club.

"We are very proud to be San Francisco's fitness partner," said Pepin-Donat. "Employers and their employees need to understand the importance of maintaining a healthy, active life. By joining with 24 Hour Fitness, Mayor Brown is reinforcing the positive results of fitness."

"People need to realize and obtain their full fitness potential. Through `Get Fit San Francisco,' I am enabling every city employee to workout, get in shape and reap the rewards of leading a healthy lifestyle," said Mayor Brown.

Many studies, including the Physical Activity and Health report released in 1996 by the U.S. Surgeon General, have shown that employees who exercise regularly have increased work productivity and satisfaction, reduced absenteeism, and remain in their jobs longer than co-workers who don't exercise. 24 Hour Fitness is committed to generating these types of direct results for employers. General Electric initiated an employee fitness program that reduced health care costs for participants by 38 percent in an 18-month period, while health care costs for non-participants increased by 21 percent.

24 Hour Fitness, the country's largest privately held health and fitness company, offers discounted corporate rates for any company that wishes to develop a fitness program for employees. There are seven 24 Hour Fitness clubs in San Francisco, enabling employers to develop programs close to their companies. The city clubs are located at: -0-

-- 303 Second St. in Marathon Plaza

-- 350 Bay St. in North Point Center

-- 1850 Ocean Ave.

-- 1645 Bryant St. on Potrero Hill

-- 1200 Van Ness Ave.

-- 3741 Buchanan St. in the Marina District

-- 100 California St. near the Embarcadero Center -0-

24 Hour Fitness designs clubs to reflect the needs of the members within the community. All locations feature state-of-the-art cardiovascular and strength-training equipment, and offer a variety of fitness classes including step and hip-hop aerobics. With over 280 pieces per club, 24 Hour Fitness is the largest purchaser of fitness equipment in the country.

Responding to the needs of its members, 24 Hour Fitness offers extended amenities such as on-site baby-sitting, children's activities, personal training and fitness counseling. The Potrero Hill club features a full length lap pool.

With over 142 clubs in five states -- California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada and Texas -- 24 Hour Fitness services more than 1.4 million members. Established in 1983 and based in Pleasanton, the company's goal is to offer fitness for everyone, at any time, in a fun, friendly and professional environment. For more information about 24 Hour Fitness memberships, please call 800/204-2400.

CONTACT: 24 Hour Fitness

Brianne Murphy Miller/Christine Bartholomew,

415/512-6800