Be the change for children in need.

Welcome to our fundraising page!

Maggie and I are so excited to be a part of this really fun event. If you follow me on Facebook, you probably know about #maggiejustsaid. It is a hashtag I created when she was two years old to chronicle the hilarious stuff she says. To show you this is what she is like in real life, she we will be joining me VIRTUALLY on November 7 to benefit Performance Initiatives. Our goal is to raise $5,000 before November 7 so please help!

What is Performance Initiatives?

Performance Initiatives was founded in 2005 by Kerri Goodrich, weightlifting coach and former member of the U.S. Women’s Weightlifting National team. The local organization's mission is "to inspire and implement principles in programs which will enrich the lives of others physically, psychologically, and spiritually." They do this through positive character building in after-school enrichment programs. These programs focus on lifeskill building, counseling, tutoring, and weight-lifting training for tournaments. Youth enrolled in the program must maintain an 80% average in their classes at school. Ninety-five percent of the kids enrolled in the program see improvement in their GPA. The same percentage of children enrolled graduate on time. Graduates of the program often return to mentor children that are currently enrolled in the program. Performance Initiatives is 100% community supported, which means it is completely funded through fundraising and private donations.

Why is this important?

The organization supports around 200 at-risk youth a year between the ages and 7-18. Eight out of ten of the children served by Performance Initiatives come from abusive backgrounds. Many live in foster homes or separated from their parents. A child that is "at-risk" means that they are unlikely to transition into adulthood successfully. For many, that means they are unable to escape the poverty cycle. They do not have access to funds or resources to help them escape the poverty cycle. Some will remain in poverty, some will be incarcerated, some will die at an early age. Very few children without access to resources make it on their own. According a current population report by the United States Census Bureau, in 2018, there were over 7.5 million families living in poverty in the United States. Quick Facts on census.gov estimates that 14.4% (over 20,000) people live in poverty in Chatham County, Georgia.

Who am I, and why is this important to me?

I began advocating for at-risk youth in 2012 when I joined the AmeriCorps VISTA program. I was assigned to a local chapter of a national organization, CASA, whose mission is to advocate for children in foster care. In 2015, I began my own non-profit that served low-income families in crisis. In 2017, I moved to Georgia to recruit and train volunteers for Savannah-Chatham CASA. I now run my own graphic and web design company, CardSastic where my primary focus is helping non-profits and small business startups promote their missions and passions.

Why are you making your kid do this?

Like any parent, I want what is best for my child. Maggie is a fun, out-going, and empathetic child. She loves to laugh, she loves to be on stage, and she has compassion that makes me weep. She was born when I was with CASA in Tennessee, so she has grown up watching me advocate for "children without moms and dads". It is my personal belief that one reason poverty is such an issue because society is uninformed about its realities. By teaching my children about children in need, they can advocate for their own peers. They can tell their friends about poverty. They may even encourage other kids to help. My girls have helped me with food drives, toy drives, passed out markers in training classes, and snuggled up with advocates-to-be. When I asked Maggie if she wanted to tell jokes with me to help kids, her eyes lit up.

Ok, how do I help?

The event is November 7 in a Virtual Platform Tickets for the event are $40. Come watch us and laugh! If you can't come, then please make a donation.

Are there sponsorships available?

Yes! Glad you asked.