FIT ENDOWMENT; MACLAY MIDDLE SCHOOL RECEIVES NEW GYM.

Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Staff Writer

Seeking to endow some of the nation's inner-city schools with state-of-the-art exercise equipment, fitness celebrity Jake Steinfeld and others dedicated a new gym at Maclay Middle School on Wednesday.

The Pacoima school was one of three in the Los Angeles area to receive DON'T QUIT! fitness centers, part of a nonprofit foundation of the same name established by Steinfeld. The foundation aims to provide the latest exercise equipment to middle and high schools in poor neighborhoods around the country.

``I look at this as hope,'' Steinfeld said. ``Kids start building their bodies, their self-esteem and self-confidence, they're less likely to smoke a

cigarette, use drugs or join a gang.''

Steinfeld was joined at Maclay's dedication ceremony by Mayor Richard Riordan, film producer Frank Marshall, rap artist Mack 10 and Olympic track and field medalists Chryste Gaines and Kenny Harrison, among others.

Maclay was the only school in the San Fernando Valley to receive the $75,000 fitness equipment, which was donated by Marshall and his wife, film producer Kathleen Kennedy. The equipment includes tread mills, weight-lifting devices and stationary bikes.

``This is for all kids at the school,'' said Marshall, a graduate of James Madison Middle School in North Hollywood. ``Hopefully, if we get them inside the fitness center we'll get them interested in running outside and doing other things.''

Located inside two adjoining rooms in Maclay's gymnasium, the fitness center made a big impression on the students.

``It's pretty cool,'' said Oscar Bello, 13, as he enthusiastically pedaled a stationary bike. ``It makes your legs hurt.''

Carlos Garcia, 13, said he can't get enough of the new equipment.

``I'm going to come after school and use everything they've got,'' said Garcia, who said he jogs, rides his bicycle up hills and lifts weights to keep in shape.

Maclay Principal Cecilia Costas said the new fitness center will be open to the neighborhood's children and adults, many of whom have never worked out on brand new exercise equipment.

``These kids deserve to be right in there with the rest of the world,'' Costas said. ``There are too many students who know physical education as just running and calisthenics. They don't know what it's like to work out on this type of equipment. Now they're going to be members of the real citizenry.''

To receive the equipment, Maclay had to demonstrate a strong commitment to physical education, have few resources, and agree to make cardiovascular workouts and weight training part of its routine gym classes.

The equipment is paid for through private donations.

So far, the DON'T QUIT! Foundation has established 12 fitness centers around the country, including four in Los Angeles, said a spokeswoman for the organization.

Besides Maclay, the other two Los Angeles area schools that received equipment Wednesday were Roosevelt Middle School in Compton and George Crozier Middle School in Inglewood.

Markham Intermediate School in Watts was the first school in Los Angeles to receive fitness equipment from the foundation, Steinfeld said.

Overall, there are 12 fitness centers located at schools around the country. Steinfeld said he hopes to build 500 more centers during the next five years.

``There's a lot of great kids out there and we want to bring the greatness out of them,'' Steinfeld said.

CAPTION(S):

Photo: Maclay student Brittany Stamps, 13, tries a stationary bike i n the new fitness center donated by nonprofit foundation DON'T QUIT.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer