Today's youth face serious challenges to their basic health and well being. Our youth are eating worse and exercising less, often as a result of factors out of their control. A growing number of youth confront serious health issues such as stress, heart disease, obesity and diabetes. These health problems carry lasting implications and if left unchecked can severely affect a child's long-term quality of life.

Local schools are increasingly being forced to reduce or cut physical education programs altogether and scale back school lunch programs. The health crisis affects youth in low income communities the most. 20% of African American, Hispanic, and Native American children ages 6-19 are considered overweight, well above the national average . Youth in these communities have limited access to healthy foods and safe places to engage in physical activity. Making matters worse, a growing number of young people face violence or the threat of violence in their daily lives.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "the major barriers most people face when trying to increase physical activity are time, access to convenient facilities, and safe environments in which to be active."

The Austin Foundation provides free fitness and nutrition education for thousands of Seattle/King County area young people ages 5 to 25 each year. The foundation hosts a wide variety of fitness and youth development programs at sites around the city, each of which is tailored to help youth develop physically, socially, emotionally and mentally. The Austin Foundation bridges racial and socioeconomic inequities in health, providing young people the tools and inspiration to live a healthy, active lifestyle.

While many youth organizations focus on team athletics, the Austin Foundation coaches youth in cardiovascular conditioning, flexibility, strength training and nutrition. This model allows each youth "client" to undergo a positive physical transformation that can carry over into other areas of his or her life. By focusing on individual fitness, each child develops a sustainable set of skills and motivation to live a healthy for life.

Young people exit our programs as fit citizens of the world, and many find the transformation in themselves so inspiring that they become passionate advocates for youth fitness education and equality. Ultimately, the Austin Foundation educates and empowers new generations of young leaders.

With every in-school fitness presentation Willie Austin gave in the early 90's, he came face to face with a growing health epidemic. The youth he met faced dwindling school fitness programs. Most did not have the means or safe access to join sports leagues, and too many were developing serious health issues at a young age. Kids with asthma. Kids with diabetes. Kids struggling with obesity.

Seeing a clear need for youth fitness education and programs, Willie Austin began offering the Youth and Fitness training program at the Gateway Athletic Club in 1994. The intent of the program was to provide youth with essential fitness activities and to connect them with caring personal trainers dedicated to their physical, emotional and personal development. In the early years, Youth and Fitness offered free fitness classes with the supported of donated time and gym space from the club, and materials from a dedicated circle of friends and club members.

In 1997 Willie partnered with Ros Ghan to form The Austin Foundation as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to meeting the need for youth fitness programming in the Seattle/King County area. Centered on the signature Youth and Fitness program, the Austin Foundation began offering free fitness and health classes at locations around the city. Through partnerships with local schools and community centers, the foundation has been able to expand its program coverage and reach a broader spectrum of underserved youth.

We at the Austin Foundation have been fortunate enough to be able to continue to increase the programs offered and the number students reached thanks to the generous support of our community. Today the Austin Foundation runs a number of after school fitness programs, evening fitness programs at partnering community centers and in-school fitness programs at numerous schools throughout the Seattle/King County area.

In 2008 the Austin Foundation continued to expand its programs and pursue partnerships to make our community healthier and safer. We are honored and excited to join forces with Seattle Children's Hospital to assess the progress of youth in Austin Foundation programs.

In addition to attending Austin Foundation fitness activities, in recent years our youth participated in African American Legislative Day in Olympia, facilitated talking circles at the 3rd annual Guiding Lights Weekend, participated in community health policy meetings and joined in programs hosted by Seeds of Compassion.

A native of West Memphis, Arkansas, Willie Austin first joined the greater Seattle community in 1980 when he came to play football for the University of Washington. Following his career as a defensive back for the Huskies, Willie chose to remain in the Pacific Northwest and continue pursuing his love of health and fitness. He began focusing on strength training, and by 1990 was the World Drug Free Powerlifting Champion.

Willie is a well-respected strength coach and personal trainer whose has coached national and world champion weightlifters and trained both amateur and professional athletes. He has worked as a trainer at the downtown YMCA and as manager of the West Seattle health club. In 1988 Willie founded the Gym of Seattle, and in 1992 he founded the Gateway Athletic Club. Willie's latest health club venture, the Now Is Fitness Center in downtown Seattle, opened doors in 2004.

Willie first began giving back to the community by serving as a guest speaker on physical fitness and drug-free living. During his on-campus presentations at area schools in 1990s, Willie began to recognize the growing need for accessible youth fitness programs. He saw first hand youth struggling with diabetes, obesity, and asthma, many of whom weren't comfortable in regular gym class settings. He saw kids who couldn't afford the cost of athletic programs or didn’t have safe access to physical fitness activities.

Inspired to make a difference, Willie persuaded the Gateway Athletic Club to donate time and space to youth programming and in 1994 started the first Youth & Fitness program to provide area youth with free health education and fitness training. In 1997 Willie and co-founder Ros Ghan created the Austin Foundation to continue and expand the program's commitment to the wellbeing and development of area youth.

In addition to his work with the Austin Foundation, Willie has served as an instructor and coach for the Washington State Special Olympics and as a consultant for the Seattle Public Schools Physical Education department. In 1998 the Seattle Times recognized Willie's contribution to the community by listing him as one of "20 Northwest people who have made a difference", and he was named the 2008 Washington State Mindful Mentor Award by the Guiding Lights Network.

17-year old Melvin Mendez has been attending Austin Foundation programs for over 6 years, and has used his work ethic and passion to positively influence the lives of those around him. He has participated in nearly every available Austin Foundation program, including Youth & Fitness, the Jr. Trainers program and C.H.A.T. Melvin has also been a tremendous role model for his younger brother John, who has greatly improved his physical fitness and has become a regular at our gym.

In 2009 Melvin received the Austin Foundation’s Anna Armstrong White Award, given each year to the youth that provides an outstanding example of positive attitude and enthusiasm. Melvin plans to continue on with the Austin foundation as a mentor to youth in both our programs and the greater community.

Our devoted trainers inspire our youth to live a healthy lifestyle. These amazing individuals teach youth the fundamentals of fitness and nutrition, serving as a source of motivation and strength for every child that they meet. Get to know some of the talented personal trainers making a difference through the Austin Foundation each day.

Crystal Brown - Group Trainer
Growing up nothing made more sense to me then playing sports. I was (and still am) extremely competitive. It wasn't until later on in life I learned the benefits of playing sports and exercising. Now I want to share those benefits with young people who may not like to compete in athletics, and those who do.

The Austin Foundation provides me with the opportunity to work with youth in many fitness programs. I first learned about the foundation while working at Rainier Community Center. Reggie Baker came every Tuesday and Thursday to do fitness with the kids. I became his intern and now assist in programs as a trainer.

When I'm not training, I write and work on my journalism career. I have two brothers, one sister and a wonderful mother who support me.

Kevin King - Personal Trainer
Kevin King is a veteran in the health industry with 15 years of experience under his belt. A certified personal trainer, some of Kevin’s personal fitness achievements include a first place finish in the 2004 Emerald Cup Super Heavy Weight Class and in the 2007 Northwest Classic Super Heavy Weight Class. Kevin’s involvement with the Austin Foundation began in 2002 when he met Willie Austin started working out at Willie’s gym. The love for his community and the kids made him a perfect match for the Austin Foundation.

Kevin originally came from Los Angeles and moved to Seattle to attend the University of Washington to double major in geography and health sciences. Kevin is currently teaching after school fitness programs for the Austin Foundation at McClure Middle School and First Place School and PE for Giddens Private School.

Robert Gaines aka Spider
I started working with the Austin Foundation in September 2006, after I just completed my degree in Sociology from the University of Washington. I started working with youth through the Austin Foundation at McClure and Hamilton Middle Schools. I like working with the program because it connects me with my past of being fit and playing football at the University of Washington where I was a star wide receiver.

I always had a passion of working with youth. I met Willie Austin in 2006 through a common friend who played football with me in 1975. I have turned my life around from drugs and alcohol through putting God first in my life and understanding the effects of what drug and alcohol can do to your body. I had to refocus my training and my eating habits to get myself prepared. I had to be in my very best shape to train with the youth of the Austin Foundation.

I am currently working at the SeaMar Recovery Center as the Youth Counselor and the head of the physical fitness program. One of the best things that has happened to me was meeting Willie Austin and joining the Austin Foundation: it has kept me young and has kept my mind alert. This experience has also inspired me to write a book about my football career as a Husky legend, which I hope will encourage more youth to be motivated in both their fitness and education.

Osodipe Olomo
Osodipe Olomo brings to the Pacific Northwest, a new, invigorating and specialized form of yoga, personal fitness and wholistic health. With a philosophy and training rooted in the African Yoruba tradition, Osodipe guides individuals through a process that leads to intimate self discovery and a necessary unlocking of the true Inner Self.

Developed after 17 years of training and 8 years of practice, Osodipe utilizes the greatest engine known to man - the body, to unlock new understanding of the mental landscape and true essence of health, and transformative inner power. His approach to health and well being offers a balance and diverse integration between mental, physical and spiritual aspects of our being.

Tyler Besecker
Tyler is a Seattle Area native and has actively participated in the Austin Foundation and Youth and Fitness programs for 3 years. He holds a degree in Economics from Stanford University where he was also a four-year letter winner on the basketball team. In each of his four years at Stanford, Tyler volunteered as a counselor at the Special Olympics Camp in Palo Alto, CA where he developed a passion for helping others in their pursuit of health and fitness. Tyler is currently the Vice-President of a local seafood company and specializes in export sales.

Andrew Coates, President
Andrew was born and raised in the Seattle area and graduated from Eastside Catholic High School before attending the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He graduated from the Wharton School with a degree in Finance and Real Estate and was also a four-year letter winner on the basketball team alongside fellow board member Duane King. During his time in Philadelphia Andrew was a member of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program and was introduced to the Austin Foundation 5 years ago and has been a supporter ever since. Andrew works in the Commercial Real Estate industry and is a high school basketball coach. He has a passion for helping kids and giving back to the greater Seattle community.

Dennis Cook
Dennis Cook is a Seattle native and a graduate of O'Dea High School, the University of Washington, and the United States Sports Academy with a Masters Degree in Sports Administration. Dennis has worked at Seattle Parks and Recreation since 1976 and manages the Citywide Athletic Office.

In addition, Dennis serves on the Catholic Youth Organization Athletic Board, is the Hershey Track and Field Regional Coordinator and has coached track and field at the youth, high school, and collegiate levels.

Puneet Duggal
Grew up and down the west coast between Washington, California, and Oregon. I moved to Seattle to attend the University of Washington. After graduating, I joined the Financial Service Industry, with AXA Advisors. I was introduced to Willie as a teenager, and became more active volunteering when I took a year off from school to join City Year, a nonprofit Americorps organization. During my time with City Year, we developed a curriculum to serve the inner-city youth of Seattle. I've spent the last 4 years establishing my career, and volunteering at local food banks and elementary schools as well.

Nancy Gratton
Nancy was born in Ellensburg, Washington. Her family moved to Seattle during her teen years where she graduated from Garfield High School. Nancy relocated to the Bay Area and worked for Bay Area Rapid Transit as an Engineering Aide. In 1995 she relocated back to Seattle and worked for United Airlines and has been employed with the Seattle Police Department in Audits, Accreditation & Policy for the past 8 years. She is the founder and Executive Director of "Lifting Our Adolescents". This program has found effective ways to impact and transform the lives of young people by preventing onset of gang membership, drug use and other problem behaviors. Working with these young people helps to create a foundation for building character, addressing academic challenges and developing emotional intelligence.

Nancy has been a member of the FireArm Crime Enforcement (FACE) Program for the past 5 years where she goes to McNeil Island Corrections Center and explains to inmates being released within 3-4 months the consequences of being caught with a gun or parts of a gun. She also has a gift-filled basket business – Fabubaskets – where she has been selected by one of Oprah Winfrey’s best friends to design Oprah’s birthday basket for the past 4 years. She was chosen as most inspirational employee with Seattle Police Department in 2004 and presented an award for Daring to Love-Daring to Lead for Dedication to Youth by Dr. Brenda Caldwell (Dr. B) on April 10, 2008. She has a 14 year old foster son who has made her house a home.

Daniel Jahn
Bio coming soon.

Duane King
Duane is from Louisville, KY. He moved to Seattle in 2006 in which he became connected with the Austin Foundation immediately. After a few years of thought he decided to become an active board member. Duane has a degree in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania. He attended Penn from 1999-2003 and was a 4 year letter winner on the basketball team during this time as well. At Penn he was involved in the national Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. He was also a mentor to several West Philadelphia youth. Duane currently works for Guardian Life as a sales representative specializing in group insurance benefits.

Lakesha Knatt
Bio coming soon.

Joshua Krause
Born 1974 in Seattle. Attended Bellevue High School and graduated in 92. Bellevue High is where Joshua met Willie in 89 and began competitively powerlifing within 1 year. After Graduation Joshua attended several colleges around the country and came back to Seattle to begin his career in construction. After working in the field for over 12 years Joshua founded Northwest Teamworks Construction Inc. in 2001. Owned and operated this company before going to work for Sellen Construction. He is currently the Asst. Superintendent for Sellen working at the Gates Foundation Campus Project. Active interests include weight training, MMA and Motorcross. Proud father of a 5 year old boy named Tynan. Currently trains at Now is Fitness and mixes in kickboxing to keep active. Professional strenghts include business & construction management, communication, marketing and PR.

Terrence Proctor
A native of Seattle, Terrence Proctor attended Franklin High School and the University of Washington, where he majored in political science. He married Arizona Johnson in 1995, and is the proud father of three youth, Tavar, Erin and Jordyn. After receiving the call of Christ to enter the ministry, he became a licensed minister at Mt. Baker Baptist Church in Seattle where he served faithfully for almost ten years before becoming the youth pastor at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church. As student care Coordinator at Seattle Urban Academy for the past nine years, Terrence Proctor's passion is reconciling and restoring families to Christ through a ministry of contact and impact. Through workshops, seminars, symposiums, and camps on developing healthy "Life Skills," Rev. Proctor has been effective at reaching youth at risk, restoring dysfunctional families, and training young people to become contributing members of their communities. Rev. Proctor has worked diligently throughout the Seattle area to advance the cause of social and racial reconciliation. He has served on several boards including serving as Chairman of the King County Juvenile Detentions Advisory Board and he currently is working in conjunction with the Church Council of Seattle on a city wide "Youth Late Night" workshop on racial reconciliation.

Kiet Vu
Kiet was born in Vietnam and immigrated to the United States with his parents and four siblings at the age of three. He grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah and graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in Finance. In 2002, shortly after graduation, he moved to Seattle, WA to begin his career with a financial services company. Kiet was first introduced to Willie Austin in 2008 and immediately gravitated to his cause of empowering youth through fitness and nutrition education. He is married to Mary Grace with whom he shares the joy of giving back to the communities in which they live and work.

Austin Foundation Advisory Board

Bruce Bivins
Bruce Bivins works currently as the Assistant Principal with Franklin High School. He comes from an educational past that includes Transformation Coordinator with the Interagency Academy, Site Coordinator with King County Juvenile Detention Center, and Special Education Teacher with Garfield High School. Last year Bruce helped establish seven educational learning centers throughout the community in an effort to partner student needs with community interests and educational standards. Bruce firmly believes that significant change depends upon a foundation of building relationships one student at a time. Bruce also reinforces that there is a direct correlation between a healthy lifestyle and academic/social success. Bruce is married to Nadine and has a daughter named Asha.

Lisa Fitzhugh
Lisa Fitzhugh has spent the last 20 years accessing and building a strong practice of creativity in all aspects of work and life. Her experience working in the public, private and non-profit sectors gives her keen insights into the interrelationships of all three, and areas for greatest collaborative potential. Today she is sought after as a “creativity catalyst” and is helping organizations in every sector integrate active creative practice for robust growth and transformation.

Lisa is the founder and former executive director of Arts Corps, the largest arts education program in Washington State reaching underserved communities throughout King County.

Rosamund Ghan
Co-Founder & Former President - Born and raised in Seattle, Ros attended Queen Anne High School and the University of Washington and then worked in the corporate health and fitness industry in San Francisco for fifteen years. In 1988, Ros returned to Seattle where she put her energies into raising her two daughters and involvement in child advocacy, educational reform and community service. She has served on numerous boards including the Greater Seattle Service League, (a fundraising guild for Childhaven) and was the recipient of the prestigious Golden Acorn award for outstanding service to Washington State education. In 1994, with a desire to help Willie Austin expand his efforts to improve the health and well-being of Seattle/King County area youth, she and Willie Co-Founded the Austin Foundation. She spent the next ten years helping build the organization to what it is today, and remains dedicated to its mission. Ros currently lives in Bellevue with her husband and daughters, and is Operations Manager for Mockingbird Society, a Seattle based non-profit dedicated to foster care reform and improving the lives of our most marginalized youth, youth and families.

Lori Markowitz
Lori is the International Program Manager for the non-profit organization, Bridges to Understanding. She earned her B.A. in International Business Administration from the American University of Paris and is a graduate of the University of Washington Evans School of Public Affairs. Lori is a founding member of the Middle East Peace Camp, an organization committed to building bridges between the Jewish and Arab communities in Seattle. She is also a founding member of Find Common Ground, an interfaith coalition whose m ission is to educate the public on peaceful solutions to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict through events, presentations and discussion. Lori serves on the Washington Middle School board of directors and on the Board of Directors for the Amy Biehl Foundation Trust. The Amy Biehl Foundation is dedicated to fostering education programs to disadvantaged youth in the townships surrounding Cape Town, South Africa. Lori has served as a volunteer for 10 years for the Austin Foundation as a group exercise instructor. She is married to Dr. Stephen Markowitz and has two youth, Joshua and Jessica.

Mark Morris
Mark Morris is a Partner at Blue Point Capital Partners, a middle market private equity firm, with offices in Seattle, Cleveland, Charlotte and Shanghai. Mark joined the group in Cleveland in 1996 and relocated to the Seattle office in early 1997. Prior to joining the group, Mark spent time in a variety of groups within KeyCorp, including Structured Capital Markets and Investment Banking. Mark graduated with a B.S. in finance from Miami University and currently serves on the Miami University Farmer School of Business Finance Advisory Board. Mark serves as a director of Callison, Legend Brands and WDC Exploration.

Valerie Stewart
Val has been in education for most of her career, teaching and coaching physical education and wellness at numerous institutions including Lakeside School in Seattle. She is a certified Health Fitness Specialist through the American College of Sports Medicine and American Council on Exercise certified personal trainer. She earned a Masters degree in Physical Education from the University of Denver and later attended SPU, WWU, and UW in Exercise Science, Environmental Law, and Environmental Education. She recently achieved her certification as a Sustainable Building Advisor and sits on her city’s Planning Board. She has served on the leadership team for the Washington State Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity and was actively involved in developing the Healthy People 2000 National Guidelines. Val was a member of Active Community Environments at the UW College of Architecture and Urban Planning and worked as a research coordinator in exercise studies at the UW School of Medicine. Val was introduced to the Austin Foundation through her daughter Ali’s involvement with City Year in 1998 and has since volunteered her time consulting and teaching personal training. In 2008 she received the Community Champion award by the Austin Foundation. Val currently is an independent fitness and sustainability consultant.

Jan Sundberg Whitsitt
Jan launched her career in marketing and public relations as the first woman Staff Director at the Yale Alumni Fund in 1974. After graduating from law school in 1978, she began as a lawyer with the Wall Street firm Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts. She then moved on to the Business and Legal Affairs Department at ABC Sports, where she negotiated the network contracts for both the 1984 Summer and Winter Olympics. She is the co-founder of Whitsitt Enterprises, a consulting firm. She was also co-founder of the gift manufacturing company Lavender Heart Botanicals, and has served on the advisory board for the Hart Marx Corporation, maker of Bobby Jones golf apparel for women. She is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Seattle Foundation and an Advisor to the Austin Foundation's Youth & Fitness Programs. In 2005, she was awarded the Community Champion Award by the Austin Foundation. Jan graduated from Yale University Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She received her law degree from the University of Virginia.

Our small but dedicated support staff keeps the day to day operations on track while simultaneously advancing the larger mission of the Austin Foundation.

Willie Austin, Founder
Willie's energy and enthusiasm for helping young people are the heart and soul of the Austin Foundation. A native of West Memphis, Arkansas, Willie Austin first joined the greater Seattle community in 1980 when he came to play football for the University of Washington. Following his career as a defensive back for the Huskies, Willie chose to remain in the Pacific Northwest and continue pursuing his love of health and fitness. He began focusing on strength training, and by 1990 was the World Drug Free Powerlifting Champion

  Learn more about Willie