In 1998 the Healthworks Foundation was inspired by the influence of “Women helping Women”.

More than a slogan, women helping women, is a practice that occurs daily in each of the five Healthworks Fitness Centers. The most revealing example of the power of women helping women was recognized when Healthworks Fitness Center’s 20,000 members lobbied to change the Massachusetts State Law to protect your own rights to exercise and/or work in an all women’s fitness facility.

Motivated by the accomplishments of the Healthworks membership, Mark and Patty Harrington developed the Healthworks Foundation to help women from disenfranchised communities embrace that same sense of empowerment.

Donating 1.25% of membership dues, the Co-owners of Healthworks Fitness Centers committed themselves to helping the less fortunate by “doing what Healthworks does best”—strengthening women through the discipline of exercise and practice of self preservation.

The Healthworks Foundation is comprised of two primary components :

1. A Community Outreach program which provides volunteers for non-profits in the community.
 
2. Healthworks Foundation Fitness Centers which are free to women who are homeless and low-income.

The Foundation also partners with other nonprofit organizations in the greater Boston region, which address the needs of women and children in the areas of health, wellness and athletics, violence prevention and survival, and economic empowerment through financial contributions and volunteer efforts.