Zumba Fitness launches initiative to help combat hunger

While participants in their classes usually look to shed calories, Zumba Fitness has launched a new initiative encouraging people to donate them in order to reduce world hunger.

Zumba Fitness has joined with the US hunger-relief organisation Feeding America and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in 'The Great Calorie Drive' which is encouraging participants to shake off their calories in Zumba classes worldwide with Zumba donate the equivalent of the average amount of calories burned per class to Feeding America and WFP.

To take part participants must check into classes using the Zumba app, with each check-in worth 750 calories.

Zumba pays US$0.14 to the food charities for each check-in and will pay for all check-ins up to a cap of US$1 million.

With the slogan, "don't just burn calories, donate them", during the three-month campaign, Zumba Fitness is challenging the world to donate 2.6 billion calories that will equate to around 3.5 million meals toward hunger-relief efforts.

Zumba Fitness co-founder and Chief Executive Alberto Perlman explains "hunger is one of the world's greatest solvable problems, while many fight to burn calories, others suffer from hunger.

"The Zumba network is in a unique position to tip the scales in the right direction, and we expect to touch millions of lives."

Feeding America Corporate Partnerships Vice President Leah Ray adds "with more than 50 million Americans struggling with hunger, food insecurity remains at record highs. Everyone can do something to help solve hunger."

For more information go to www.zumba.com/en-US#show_menu

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