Distinguished Business Partner

There are times in life when the less-is-more rule is good to follow. Chowing down on double-cheese pizza springs to mind. But when it comes to doing stuff that enhances your health AND happiness, more is often better. And that appears to be the case at Rancho Cordova Curves.

There are times in life when the less-is-more rule is good to follow. Chowing down on double-cheese pizza springs to mind. But when it comes to doing stuff that enhances your health AND happiness, more is often better. And that appears to be the case at Rancho Cordova Curves.

 

Curves is a fitness business located on Olson Drive. It is owned and operated by Aileen Florentz, who by day is a school teacher, and during every other waking hour is a fitness buff who apparently believes good health begins with the soul.

Every day, women trek into Curves for their signature 30-minute workouts. They are shaping up their bodies, to be sure, and tjat alone is a worthy goal. But the reason they are here today is that at Curves, they are shaping up the community, too.

Led by Aileen and staff, Curves makes it their business to support worthy causes in the community each and every month. So when we say the Curves ladies are used to doing some heavy-lifting, we are not just referring to the weight machines.

In the past few years, Curves and their devoted clients have quietly raised money, materials and support for a truly breath-taking array of local causes:

Enough? We're just getting started.

• Curves supports youth football and softball teams
  
• Bear Hugs for UC Davis Children's Hospital
  
• Angel Tree for foster children
  
• Project 680 drives collecting underwear and socks for local homeless children
  

And they are not afraid to reach far beyond the borders of our community.

 

Ever since young Americans have found themselves in harm's way in far-flung places like Iraq and Afghanistan, the ladies at Curves have kept them close to their hearts. The Curves ladies diligently collect money and materials for shipping to service men and women encamped in distant and out of the way places. They have sent everything from M&M's and baby wipes to lip balm, cooling scarves and sand scarves.

In return, they have received flags that have flown over tents in the desert, friendships with servicemen they will never meet and a connection of caring that knows no borders or distance.

 

Curves member Joanne Arellanes told us this: "Curves is an organization, not only interested in the health of its members, but in the health and well-being of men, women and children in our community and country. It is a credit to Rancho Cordova and an exemplary model of what a business and all of us Rancho Cordova citizens should be striving to emulate. Curves has heart."

We agree.

 

It is important to encourage physical fitness. But in creating a unique culture of caring, Curves has become not only a pathway to healthy bodies, but a guidepost to healthy souls, as well.

Curves meets and exceeds all criteria for this award: This is outstanding volunteer effort that inspires others to help improve their own community.

 

At Curves, we would expect some perspiration. But the high level of aspiration and inspiration certainly caught our attention.