Performance Initiatives Fitness helps to fight childhood obesity by providing a safe place for daily fitness programs and after school tutoring for under privileged youth.

Please vote for this Pepsi Refresh Project by going to www.PiFitness.org.

Vote today and each day in December for PI Fitness youth programs at the Pepsi Refresh Project. You can also text 110875 to 73774

Here’s a direct link to the Pepsi Site.

Original Painting by Molly Wright

SAVANNAH – Local artist Molly Wright will debut her original painting selected as the poster for the 2012 Savannah Book Festival at her Skidaway Art Works Gallery Show on November 17 – 18.

Prints and note cards from the original painting entitled “Lose Yourself in Books” will be available at the show, as well as Molly’s new works inspired by her coastal travels.

Molly Wright, best known for her impressionistic style of brightly colored oil and acrylic painting, has been featured in publications such as Coastal Living Magazine, American Art Collector, and M Magazine.

The Savannah Book Festival will be held February 15-19 2012.  Prints of the original artwork for the upcoming festival will also be available for sale on www.skidawayartworks.com and www.savannahbookfestival.org.

The Gallery Show will include a wine and cheese reception from 5:30 to 7:30 pm on Thursday Nov. 17, and Friday, Nov. 18.  Skidaway Art Works is located at 8408 Marcus place, off Montgomery Crossroads, and one block east of Waters.

About Molly Wright

Since her first solo gallery show in 1994, Molly has displayed her unique works for private gallery showings throughout the north and southeast. Her work is part of the permanent collection of The Martha Jefferson Hospital, and the private collection of Jay Fishman, CEO of The Travelers Insurance Company in New York City.  Find Molly Wrights’ art collection on display in Savannah, Georgia at the Skidaway Artworks gallery and at www.skidawayartworks.com

After making the presentation, Jared held up the “fat” pants he used to wear prior to losing 245 pounds in one year on the “Subway” diet.

Nikki’s winning poster illustrated her visual story of weight loss and fitness progress.     Learning Cross Fit, weightlifting, and new ways of eating healthy helped her lose over 50 pounds.

Prizes awarded from Subway included $1,000 awarded to Coastal Empire Weightlifting, a program offered at Performance Initiatives Fitness, which will go toward new equipment.   Nikki also won  $1,000 in Subway gift cards, which she will share with her weightlifting teammates.

Rob and Susan Dailey opened a non-franchised frozen yogurt shop Isle of Yo’ in Norwood Market in Sandfly. A Grand Opening Celebration will be held Saturday, October 1^st.  Anyone bringing a non-perishable food item for Second Harvest Food Bank will receive half off their yogurt purchase up to 8 oz.   Hours Sun – Thurs 12-9 Friday 12-10 Saturday 11-10

Isle of Yo’ is located at 7360 Skidaway Rd. Savannah, GA  31406. For more details or information, please contact Susan Dailey at 912.354.5501 or go to www.isleofyo.com

A Table Creations Fundraiser event will be held on Sunday, Sept 25^th from 1-4pm at the Crystal Beer Parlor at 301 West Jones Street (corner of Jones & Jefferson in Savannah) to benefit youth programs at Performance Initiatives Fitness.

Local area artists have created hand painted indoor and outdoor tables and chairs which will be sold by silent auction.

Tables may be previewed before the 25^th in the Monroe Room.  The Crystal Beer Parlor will be featuring a special menu for the event, with 10% of all proceeds from this menu to be donated to PI for the youth programs. http://www.crystalbeerparlor.com/

www.PiFitness.org

Under the direction of Sculptor Susie Chisholm, students began with a lump of clay and a mirror to create their likeness. Learning the feel of the clay, molding, and hollowing out a bust of themselves began the process for each of the young athletes.

The clay was donated by the City of Savannah Department of Cultural Affairs Department, who also offered assistance by Matt Maggioni, a graduate of AASU’s Fine Arts program.

“Our goal was to help each child look at themselves and the world around them in a new and different way,” said Chisholm.

Firing the clay pieces was also made possible by the City of Savannah, who has a kiln able to accommodate large pieces of art.

Eleven young athletes who were transformed to artists displayed their work at an exhibit on August 23, as students, friends, and families gathered at the Savannah Dept. of Cultural Affairs Art Gallery for the Youth Sculpture Show.

City of Savannah Cultural Affairs

Photo Gallery

Tickets are $25 General Admission, $35 Reserved Seating and $50 VIP, which includes Reserved Seating and admittance into the “Meet and Greet” after-party. For tickets, visit www.lucastheatre.com or call (912) 525-5050. The box office is located at 216 E. Broughton St. The Lucas Theatre is located at 32 Abercorn St.

Goodrich left last Thursday for Colorado Springs and is currently helping to improve the technical aspects of weightlifting for camp participants, while under the direction of National Team Coach Zygmunt Smalcerz.

“I’m honored to be chosen for a program of this caliber,” said Goodrich.

Gold Medalist Tayler Jakubsen, a member of the Coastal Empire Weightlifting Team was chosen as a youth coach, but had to turn down the opportunity at the OTC due to a prior commitment to summer football practice at Benedictine.

All coaches participating in this summer program reside in the residence facilities at the OTC along with the lifters attending the camp, and are responsible for supervising the lifters throughout the camp period.