Our purpose
When you believe in yourself, anything is possible: We see it firsthand at Raise the Bar Initiative.
Your adolescent years are meant to be an exciting time of growth, but research shows that there has been a serious decline in mental health amongst girls in this age group.
70% of teenage girls report feeling “not good enough.
75% of girls with low self-esteem admitted to engaging in self-destructive behavior such as cutting, bullying, drinking, smoking and eating disorders.
69% of adolescents 13-19 report feeling alone “often” or “sometimes” and 59% feel they have no one to talk to “often” or “sometimes.”
Strength training is shown to lower depression, reduce anxiety, improve self-esteem, increase cognitive function and improve overall well-being.
Our goal is to build a generation of strong girls and women, which is why we started the Barbell Club (BBC). The weight room can be an intimidating place, both because it is a traditionally male-dominated environment, and because one of the common barriers to participating is often not knowing where to start. We also know from experience that strength training can help improve overall body image and self-esteem. Our programs focus on providing a welcoming environment where we take the lessons we learned from strength training and translate them into a confidence that goes beyond the weight room. Our mission goes beyond fitness: ultimately, we create a community in which these young women can voice their concerns and draw strength not only from themselves, but from each other.
“It has helped me feel more confident in situations outside of this club, and helped me be more open in my own opinions so I don't feel inferior or taken advantage of, as well as just gaining confidence about my physique and body image and gaining mental & physical strength”
— BBC Participantdonate today
As our Barbell Club program continues to evolve, needs for various pieces of equipment are always on the horizon. Every donation helps us reach that goal and enables the Barbell Club girls to get stronger, one lift at a time.
