Chris and Melissa Conti founded Innovative Fitness in 2000 with a mission to create and inspire healthier communities. Inherent in that mission was a deep commitment to giving back to their community by “seeing a need, and filling a need”. As Melissa says, “No one ever needs permission to do good.”
In 2019, Chris Conti died tragically while on a business trip. The following year, to honor his memory, Melissa created the Chris Conti Memorial Grant. This grant provides one fitness center per year to a Georgia nonprofit, public high school or public safety organization at no cost. The first grant was awarded in 2020 to Goshen Valley Boys Ranch in Waleska, GA. (See link above for more information including how and when to apply.)
This year, Melissa established the Service with Love Giving Fund at Cobb Community Foundation (CCF) as one more way to honor the memory of her husband and business partner. Chris’ mantra was “to do all things with love” and this charitable giving fund (DAF) was established to expand the Conti’s commitment to serving others by putting their love into action. Melissa believes that the Service with Love Giving Fund will provide even more opportunities for Innovative Fitness to contribute and improve the overall wellbeing of others, particularly since she and her team can now avail themselves of CCF’s knowledge of the community’s needs and of the local organizations meeting those needs.
Supporting causes and fulfilling needs in their community fits so well with the mission statement of Cobb Community Foundation – Inspiring charitable giving, building resources for the future and connecting donors who care with causes that matter. If you are interested in giving back to community nonprofits, or finding out more about the work they do and the needs they have – please go to Cobb Community Connection to search by location, population served, or causes addressed. If would like to find out more about opening a giving fund, please contact Barbara Garner at [email protected] or call (770) 859-2359.
Melissa Conti with her grandchildren and daughters Lexi, Christina and Brittany