About
On August 24th, 2018, Jessica Beresford walked into Chicago Animal Care & Control to adopt a best friend. She knew the scene would be grim and crowded, but she was woefully unaware of just how many animals would be there waiting for their forever homes. Each pavilion with rows upon rows of kennels filled with scared pups who just wanted to go home. Jess barely made it past the first kennel before she broke into tears.
Thankfully that first pup, a shy blue pitbull who kept her nose pressed against the kennel and never broke eye contact, was all it took. After two days of waiting for spay surgery, on August 26th, 2018 Jess walked away from CACC with a new best friend named Barbelle.
Saving Barbelle sparked something inside Jess that compelled her to become more active in the rescue community -- reposting adoptables online, donating, volunteering at a local shelter -- but she wanted to do more. And so, Weights for the Waiting was founded.
About the founder:
Jess is a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer, former Head Trainer at Orangetheory Fitness-Chicago River West, she holds her CrossFit L1, and has taught almost 4,000 classes in the Chicago Community. She’s impacted thousands of lives over the years, and she’s thrilled to combine that passion with her love of animals.
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"I hope building a charity class initiative will not only be a step toward ending pet homelessness, but a step towards the healthiest version of Chicago."
We believe that everyone can create a better future for rescues and reach their fitness goals simultaneously.
Our Mission
End pet homelessness and build healthier communities by connecting people and pups.
Our Vision
Reinvent the community experience of fundraising and fitness.