Our Story
In 2009, financial security was at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Unemployment was rising, home values were declining, and uncertainty about the economy weighed heavily on families across the country and here in Centre County. With less disposable income, services such as personal training were often among the first expenses to be reduced or eliminated. One on One felt that impact directly.
During that challenging period, our founders, Bruce and Kym Burke, recognized an important reality. If their business was experiencing strain, local nonprofit organizations were likely facing even greater hardship. Rather than responding from a position of fear, they made the deliberate decision to strengthen their commitment to philanthropy.
From that decision, “Give Back” was established.
From the beginning, “Give Back” has focused its efforts on two local organizations that play essential roles in our community. Centre Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM) provides quality healthcare to low-income and uninsured individuals in Centre County. Youth Service Bureau (YSB) delivers mentoring, family support, prevention, and residential programs that strengthen children, youth, and families throughout Centre County.
Instead of dispersing small donations broadly, we chose to concentrate our efforts where meaningful and sustained impact could be made. The simple formula of “Give Back” has remained consistent: spend one dollar to raise two. By leveraging both our services and skills as well as our financial resources, we have creatively developed a program that goes beyond traditional fundraising methods.
In 2025, “Give Back” raised $42,400. Since its inception, the initiative has raised more than $650,000 in support of our community.
Making a Difference
Hear what Christine Bishop, CEO of Centre County Youth Services Bureau, had to say about the impact of “Give Back” during her interview at It’s Pop Radio on February 17th, 2026.
2026 Highlight
Blah Buster Day
We began 2026 with a bang! Our Blah Buster Day in February began with an 80s-themed workout class that drew more than 50 participants. That evening, we hosted a trivia night where teams gathered to test their knowledge and compete for fun prizes. Blah Buster Day raised over $4,000!
Dollars for Burpees
Our Give-Back efforts continued in May with Dollars for Burpees. During Centre Gives, we closed One on One and brought our community together to watch our team members (and clients!) complete over 3,500 burpees in one hour! This simple initiative raised over $8,000 and donations went further by participating during Centre Gives. We are thankful to everyone who helped make Dollars for Burpees a success.
Cynthia Makes Her Return
After making her debut in early 2026, Cynthia returned this summer and reminded us why she has become such a fun part of our Give-Back efforts. Cynthicize is all about creating fun and connecting people all while supporting our local charities.
During Arts Fest, Cynthia hosted Trivia Night at A’s Pub in downtown State College, and the following morning, she was back at it, leading an 80s-themed dance and power walk during the 5K race.
Cynthia has collaborated with organizations like Recenter Chiropractic, Nittany Nannies, Sunny Strides Coaching, Jocelyn Anderton Dentistry and others to highlight their efforts in caring for our community.
In August, Cynthia performed at Wing Fest in front of thousands of concert-goers, luring them out of their seats to participate in an energetic Cynthicize experience!
We are excited to see where she pops up next! You can learn more about Cynthicize here and follow on Facebook or Instagram.