24 Hour Fitness(R) and Soles4Souls Celebrate Earth Day in Texas

More than 70 clubs throughout Texas will participate in a statewide shoe
trade-in event

NASHVILLE, Tenn. and DALLAS, April 17 /PRNewswire/ -- 24 Hour Fitness, the
nation's leading fitness club chain, announced today that they have joined
forces with Soles4Souls, a charitable organization which collects and
distributes "gently used" shoes. Beginning on April 22, 2008 (Earth Day) all
24 Hour Fitness clubs throughout Texas invite members and guests to bring in
their old, new, or "gently used" shoes to be recycled for those in need. The
shoes will go to disaster victims, people living in poverty and those in need
of a fresh start.
"We believe there is often a strong emotional connection between your
workout and the shoes you wear. This makes this partnership with Soles4Souls
not only a great way to celebrate the planet but also a really easy way for
our members, team members and the community to help those who are less
fortunate," said Randy Drake, Senior Vice President at 24 Hour Fitness.
"We are delighted to partner with 24 Hour Fitness and give people another
way to recycle their shoes," said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls.
"Far too many shoes already end up in our landfills when they could benefit a
person in need, and our friends at 24 Hour Fitness recognize that giving
people an easy and fun way to participate will help reduce the strain on our
environment," he said.
People interested in learning more about the Earth Day partnership between
24 Hour Fitness and Soles4Souls can visit www.giveshoes.org or stop by one of
the 71 participating 24 Hour Fitness clubs throughout Texas. Shoe donations
will be accepted through June 7, 2008. To find a convenient 24 Hour Fitness
location in your area, log on to: www.24HourFitness.com or call
1-800-224-0240.
About 24 Hour Fitness
Headquartered in San Ramon, Calif., 24 Hour Fitness Worldwide, an
innovative leader in the health and fitness industry, serves more than 3
million members in over 400 clubs worldwide. Founded in 1983 as a one-club
operation, 24 Hour Fitness pioneered the concept of making fitness accessible,
affordable and a way of life for everyone. 24 Hour Fitness has partnered with
superstar athletes and celebrities like Magic Johnson, Andre Agassi, Lance
Armstrong, Shaquille O'Neal, Jackie Chan, Yao Ming and Derek Jeter to open
co-branded clubs around the world. The company demonstrates its leadership
through sponsorships like that of the U.S. Olympic Team and a commitment to
the community through various charitable and in-kind donations. In addition,
24 Hour Fitness enjoys strategic partnerships with major consumer brands like
Coca-Cola and Nike, and for five seasons has partnered with NBC's popular
reality TV show, The Biggest Loser. Please call 1-800-224-0240 or visit
www.24HourFitness.com for more information and to find the location nearest
you.
About Soles4Souls:
Nashville-based Soles4Souls(TM) facilitates the donations of both new and
used shoes, which are used to aid the hurting worldwide. The organization
created National Barefoot Week, to be held during the first week of June each
year, to encourage participation among individuals, companies, and civic
groups. Since its inception, Soles4Souls has collected more than 3 million
pairs (or one pair every 28 seconds) from shoe companies, retailers, and
individuals. The shoes have been distributed in more than 60 countries,
including Mexico, Honduras, Romania, Thailand, and the Sudan. The charity has
been featured on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, ABC News, FOX, CBS, and
hundreds of regional outlets around North America. Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3)
recognized by the IRS; donating parties are eligible for tax advantages.
Visit www.GiveShoes.org and www.Soles4Souls.org or call (866) 521-SHOE.
SOURCE Soles4Souls Inc.

Christian Carmichael of Soles4Souls Inc., +1-866-521-7463 ext 143,
chrisc@soles4souls.org