Date

Contact NameFoundation NameAddressCity, State, Zip

RE: Exercise Technology to Help YOUR YMCA Deliver Positive Change and Improve the Overall Wellness of Our Members

Dear Contact Name,

Every day, the YOUR YMCA strives to strengthen the foundations of our community.

In more than 10,000 neighborhoods across the nation, The Y has the presence and partnerships to not just promise, but deliver, positive change. The YOUR YMCA is writing to you today to talk about a technology partnership with SMARTfit by Multisensory Fitness, Inc. that we believe can help deliver positive change in YOUR COMMUNITY.

The YOUR YMCA feels SMARTfit can be crucial in nurturing the physical and mental potential of our members while increasing social interaction within our YMCA and our community.

The YOUR YMCA brings people together by connecting individuals of all ages and backgrounds to bridge the gaps in community needs. Our community, like many around the country, has a significant issue with obesity and inactivity, and needs to deal with it immediately.

Installation of SMARTfit’s neurophysical fitness gaming systems can help the community at-large adopt positive physical habits by introducing a type of exercise that is also a lot of fun.

A generous donation from you will give us the tools to install SMARTfit, thus helping build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all, and facilitating positive social change in our community.

The YOUR YMCA has been serving COMMUNITY NAME since YEAR with a wide range of programs that are designed to strengthen our community and help individuals build healthy lifestyles. As we begin to embrace new technology that can help us facilitate more advanced programming, we ask for your support in introducing SMARTfit into the YOUR YMCA.

Sincerely,

Name Title

FUNDING PROPOSAL

Using New Technology to Promote Positive Social Change in Our Community across All Demographics

SUBMITTED TO: GRANT HOLDER HERE

I. PROJECT SUMMARY

The YOUR YMCA is constantly assessing the best ways we can introduce new practices and technology to promote positive social change in our community. Many of the issues today in our community revolve around inactivity, as individuals of all ages are well below the recommended amount of daily physical activity. Widespread inactivity plays a significant part in high obesity rates and the increasing prevalence of neurological disorders.

The YOUR YMCA has already received a grant from Multisensory Fitness to install their progressive SMARTfit technology. We are now working with organizations like yours to raise the remaining balance of funds necessary to introduce SMARTfit into our facility.

SMARTfit provides a solution to a key problem we face; introducing programming that possesses mainstream appeal and combats inactivity. SMARTfit does this by delivering fun and highly motivating game-based workouts. Installation of SMARTfit can increase participation in afterschool programs and camps, thus tackling inactivity and obesity in the most crucial segment of the population. Not only will SMARTfit help our members, but SMARTfit will help the YOUR YMCA increase revenue by facilitating elevated participation in afterschool programs, camps, and fitness classes.

SMARTfit’s ability to counter inactivity stretches well beyond youth, reaching across all demographics. SMARTfit would be highly popular with our “Active Aging” members. SMARTfit’s systems “Train the

Brain While Working Out,” and can assist in the prevention of neurological disorders in aging adults, including dementia. According to the US Census Bureau, more than 10,000 baby boomers will reach the age of 65 every day for the next 15 years. SMARTfit will provide us an enjoyable programming platform for this growing segment, and will increase frequency of exercise in the Active Aging demographic.

YOUR YMCA also believes SMARTfit can be an important tool in establishing a greater level of social integration within our YMCA, and within our community. SMARTfit has developed “Programming Designed to Change Lives,” as their programming model emphasizes team building, and gives users of all abilities and skill levels the opportunity to excel in 80+ games. Because SMARTfit creates a multisensory environment that requires application of the brain and body, it “Levels the Playing Field” and encourages cooperation among users.

II. PRODUCT OVERVIEW

SMARTfit technology draws on the latest in brain research, exercise science and sports science, then combines this information with cutting edge multisensory interactive technology to create the next generation of brain-body solutions for facilities just like YOUR YMCA.

SMARTfit’s fitness gaming modules create a multisensory training environment for all ages and ability levels. Visual, auditory, and physical tasks are integrated in performing the motor skills required. These protocols, with their profound and simultaneous brain/body stimulation, are the key element that differentiates SMARTfit from other technology we’ve interacted with.

III. BUILDING A BRIDGE TO POSITIVE PHYSICAL FITNESS HABITS

In our interactions with SMARTfit, we’ve seen how their “Vitality Games” attract and motivate users like a standard video game, but instead provide a brain-body exercise that can allow all demographics to establish healthy physical fitness habits and confront inactivity over the long-term.

Recent data from Kaiser Permanente suggests that children and young adults are spending as much as 8.5 hours per day interacting with media, watching television, using computers and smart phones, and playing video games. Projections indicate that “screen time” is likely to continue to increase over time.

This is, quite obviously, a leading factor that contributes to inactivity in our community. While researchers, foundations, and companies around the world spend hours working to develop complex solutions, SMARTfit has, incredibly, utilized the problem itself to develop a simple solution.

“If kids want to play computer/video games, let them play computer/video games,” SMARTfit CEO Cathi Lamberti told us, “But let them interact with computer/video games in a multisensory environment that stimulates brain, body, and all five senses while having just as much fun.”

While our regular programming practices can be highly effective and entertaining to our members, SMARTfit can help those that don’t participate in daily physical activity to adopt daily play and exercise habits. SMARTfit, specifically, speaks to those that may be hesitant or afraid to take part in challenging team sports like football, basketball, and more.

One of the greatest issues we face is getting the obese to take a leap of faith, and participate in a play or physical fitness-based activity. SMARTfit’s gaming walls build a bridge to physical fitness for kids and adults alike that may not have been interested in regular exercise by engaging them in games similar to the video games they love and play so frequently.

IV. OUTLINE OF BENEFITS THAT SMARTfit CAN PROVIDE OUR MEMBERS

As the YOUR YMCA looks to tackle inactivity and promote the development of positive physical fitness habits in our community, (which in turn, can lead to elevated brain performance) we’ve recognized that SMARTfit can offer a full range of benefits to benefit our members and community.

Instead of simulating play, SMARTfit systems engage players in a real multisensory kinesthetic

Physical Benefits Related to Regular Engagement with SMARTfit Systems

Fitness Benefits - Cardiovascular, Strength, Aerobic, Anaerobic, Functional, Core Strength, Balance, Flexibility, Range of Motion

Sports Benefits - Throwing, Catching, Kicking, Tracking, Conditioning, Accuracy, Placement, Footwork, Ball Speed and Control, Quickness, Speed, Agility

experience involving real play/sporting equipment. SMARTfit technology features targets with multiple colors, shapes, letters, numbers and sounds, and creates new cognitive, visual and auditory challenges for participants while also tracking accuracy, speed and motion.

The mix of cognitive training with the widely understood positive effect that physical activity has on the brain creates new ways to engage the brain through action-based learning concepts.

SMARTfit will, additionally, play an important part in our active aging programming. The benefits for the active aging demographic are significant. An effective active aging exercise program is comprised of several wellness components: aerobic conditioning, flexibility and agility activities, strength training, relaxation techniques and positive social interaction. SMARTfit covers all of these components.

V. USING SMARTfit AS A TOOL FOR SOCIAL INTEGRATION

SMARTfit has developed games that they refer to as “Programming Designed to Change Lives,” as their inclusive programming model helps further establish advanced social integration while facilitating team building and increasing group cooperation. It’s been amazing to see individuals that normally rest on opposite sides of the social spectrum connecting and bonding during SMARTfit gaming sessions.

On the playground, self-esteem frequently hangs on a child’s ability to throw and catch a ball. Who might be picked to a team is a primitive measure of social acceptance among children. However, it is the belief of the SMARTfit team, that children previously marginalized to the sidelines can be integrated back into playground activity just

Neural and Cognitive Benefits Related to Regular Engagement with SMARTfit Systems

Proprioception, vestibular control, hand-foot-eye coordination, neuroplasticity (“Miracle Grow for the brain”), cognitive agility, motor coordination and reaction skills, neural

system repair, attention and focus, memory, problem solving, speed, accuracy and reaction timing, decision making under pressure and “in-the-now” training (zone training).

Benefits Specific to Active Aging Related to Regular Engagement with SMARTfit Systems

Bone Health, Body Weight, Muscular Strength, Processing Speed, Motor Control, Balance, Posture, Neurological Competence, Prevention of Neurological Disorders like Alzheimer’s.

weeks after SMARTfit practice because the system provides a more protected, unintimidating environment in which to develop their skills. For this purpose, the versatility of the system is essential.

SMARTfit programs develop social skills and interpersonal cooperation through social interaction in a spirit of fun. SMARTfit introduces opportunities for our young members to work together as a team, and create an environment where participants develop and enhance concepts such as inclusiveness, cooperation, and mutual support.

SMARTfit can be used as a tool for social integration in the active aging demographic as well. SMARTfit programming does not discriminate with regard to skill level as it meets players at their own abilities.

Each player will find it easy to prepare the system for his or her level. Since the structure of the programming involves multiple short games played in teams, there are no permanent winners. Instead, the chance for everyone to succeed is repeated every couple of minutes, which incentivizes continuous play. Often, trainers have to “pull the plug” to end play.

Since groups can play either together or one team can play against another, a high level of camaraderie is quickly built. The combination of skill development along with social connection leaves players inspired with a sense of belonging after each class ends.

VI. BUDGET – Available Upon Specific Request