Free Community Gym Celebrates Life Of OC Personal Trainer

TUSTIN, CA — What does it mean for families to be able to work out together? Everything, according to the minds behind Jae's Gym.

In August, a personal fitness trainer who worked at Families Together of Orange County, Jae Flores, died suddenly. His loss remains palpable for Alexander Rossel, CEO of Families Together. Friday, the group debuted their new Wellness Center in Tustin, named in Flores's honor. There, hundreds of low-income community members now have access to high-end equipment, training and classes.

"Jae will live on as the community health center names the facility Jae’s Gym in his honor," Rossel said. “Jae made a huge impact at Families Together. Not only with his patients but among staff as well."

Familie's Together of Orange County provides affordable quality health services including medical, dental, vision, behavioral health and wellness with locations in Tustin and Garden Grove, California. It is also one of the top 10 vaccine administrators in Orange County.

Families Together of Orange County, whose patients are primarily enrolled in the state’s Medicaid program Medi-Cal, has relaunched Jae's Gym as a state-of-the-art gym facility and its weight resistance training program, which will cater to hundreds of patients.

What's more? It's completely free of charge.

Sitting within the organization’s dedicated Wellness Center, the gym plays a crucial role in the community health center’s mission to teach patients how to take control of their health. Along with nutrition and cooking classes, the weight resistance training program is an important component in the preventative care and education of FTOC’s patients.

"We are excited to bring this program back to life in Jae’s honor with classes led by our personal trainer, Chris Henderson," a spokesperson for the group said.

Staying true to Jae’s charge while at Families Together, the gym will continue serving the community by providing one-on-one and group training sessions with weight resistance trainer Chris Henderson, who will inaugurate the gym on Friday, November 12 with a free community workout.

The dedication and ribbon-cutting of the new revamped gym is just part of Jae's ongoing legacy. They celebrated his memory with a free outdoor community workout, and a Farmer’s Market offering fresh fruits and vegetables. FTOC staff planned tours of the new gym after the workout.

"When we had the chance to update our gym equipment and program, we thought it fitting that we name it after him and continue his legacy by giving the people in our community an opportunity to learn how fitness can help them take control of their health," Rossel said. "He had a passion for educating people about their health and giving them the tools to take control of it."

The fitness center is located at 621 W. 1st Street, Tustin.