Please join the LaLanne Family, friends, fans, and 65+ million health, fitness and disease prevention professionals worldwide; and sign this petition for the Founder of the Fitness Industry - Jack LaLanne – to receive the “Congressional Gold Medal”: https://bit.ly/JackLaLanneCelebrityTribute

The Gold Medal is the United States’ highest civilian award - recognizing exceptional achievements impacting American history and culture: https://history.house.gov/Institution/Gold-Medal/Gold-Medal-Recipients/

No one has had a greater or more enduring impact on the health and wellbeing of Americans than the “Godfather of Fitness” Jack LaLanne!

Jack LaLanne was an American fitness pioneer, nutrition advocate, television host and visionary. Through his inventions; health clubs; books; nutritional supplements and products; public demonstrations of strength and appearances; and long-running, daily exercise program, “The Jack LaLanne Show”; Jack introduced exercise, healthy eating, and home workouts to millions of Americans - decades before fitness became mainstream. 

An enthusiastic health evangelist, Jack dedicated his life to proving anyone, of any age, could live longer, happier lives through regular exercise and good nutrition.

In 1936, at only 21 years old, Jack opened the world’s first modern health club in Oakland, California, USA. At a time when weightlifting was confined to circus strongmen, and doctors called him a “crackpot”, Jack ignored the criticism and built a co-ed, health studio that combined:

·       Weight Training

·       Cardiovascular Exercise

·       Nutritional Counseling

·       Supervised Instruction

Jack invented or popularized innovative exercise equipment – many still gym standards today, including:

·       Cable Pulley Machines

·       Leg Extension Machines

·       Early versions of the Smith Machine

·       Resistance Bands

Jack was the first to encourage and train women, the disabled, and elderly, to weight train, embrace nutrition, and remain active.

But it was Jack’s entrepreneurial spirit; remarkable foresight; and unprecedented recognition that the new, mass-medium of television was the ideal platform to educate, inspire, and motivate that rocketed Jack to global super-stardom, and the birth of the modern fitness industry.

In 1951, Jack debuted the first, nationally syndicated, daily exercise television program, known as “The Jack LaLanne Show” - universally-acknowledged as the forerunner of today's fitness video and multi-media platforms.  

From a minimalist set and wearing his trademark jumpsuit, Jack instructed his viewers to use basic home objects, such as a chair, broom stick, cans of food, and water bottles to, “Get off your seat, and on your feet!” – demonstrating and inspiring viewers to copy his basic movements; and remotely exercise with him to organ music for over 30 years.

Jack taught his audiences about anatomy, physiology, and nutrition – establishing him as the world’s first “virtual fitness trainer” and mass physical educator: https://bit.ly/JackLaLanneShow

Beyond TV, Jack authored several books; produced instructional fitness videos; marketed exercise equipment; and was among the earliest promoters of juicing as a health practice.

Leading by example, Jack became famous for conducting spectacular “feats of strength” and endurance; including:

·       Performing 1,033 push-ups in 23 minutes on live TV (1956)

·       Swimming from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco while handcuffed (1955)

·       Paddleboarding 30 miles from the Farallon Islands to the San Francisco Coast

·       At age 60, swimming while towing a 1,000-pound boat

·       At age 70, swimming a mile, handcuffed and shackled, while towing 70 boats carrying 70 people

These dramatic challenges cemented his reputation as a symbol of lifelong fitness!

Jack was also a proud U.S. Navy Vet; and designed fitness plans for service members and first responders around the world. In addition, he was an inaugural member of both the President’s and California Governor’s Councils on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. Jack truly believed that healthy citizens were essential for a strong, secure, and peaceful nation.

Jack’s lifelong advocacy of exercise, nutrition, and wellness, for preventative healthcare and positive quality of life, transformed public attitudes and laid the foundation for the global $9.8 Trillion health and wellness industry existing today.

Jack’s remarkable life and career epitomizes the Congressional Gold Medal qualifications - particularly this year – 2026:

·      90th Anniversary: “Jack LaLanne Physical Culture Studio” – Considered the world’s first modern health club. 

·      75th Anniversary: “The Jack LaLanne Show” – Universally-acknowledged forerunner of today's mass, multi-media, wellness industry.

·      15th Anniversary: Jack’s passing.

For all these reasons and more, please sign this petition for Jack to receive the Congressional Gold Medal. 

Please also share it with your friends! And tag your social media posts: #JackLaLanneUSAGoldMedal!

Please contact the “Jack LaLanne Congressional Gold Medal” Campaign Chairs with any questions: Drisha Leggitt Drisha@Drishalcc.com or (916) 206-2553; or Greg Justice aycfit@gmail.com or (816) 896-6565.

From the entire LaLanne family – and Jack in Heaven – THANK YOU for continuing Jack’s legacy and proving 

“Anything in life is possible, if YOU make it happen!”