Pink Lotus Yoga Studio Raises Nearly $900 for Beck Center

Community leaders, students and friends filled the cozy home of Pink Lotus Yoga (PLY) Studio on Saturday, Sept. 29, to help founder and director Marcia Camino kick off her first official PLY Outreach Endeavor Event -- Bend for Beck, a day of yoga, fundraising and fun in support of Beck Center for the Arts Creative Arts Therapies programs.

More than 80 guests visited the studio at 18103 Detroit Ave. for donation-only yoga classes, a studio open house, a silent auction showcasing works from 8 local artists and a raffle featuring 21 baskets filled with goods from 47 local businesses. Combined donations from the day totaled an estimated $900.

“We are thrilled with the outpouring of generosity from those not only in our yoga community but the greater Lakewood and west side community as a whole,” Camino says. “The funds we raised throughout this special day for Beck Center for the Arts will assist individuals with special needs, which include mental, physical or developmental disabilities, in maximizing their potential by using art, dance/movement and music as a therapeutic tool.”

Not only did Camino and her team of studio volunteers pull off a successful fundraising event; the team also highlighted the studio’s effort to support the city of Lakewood’s BikeLakewood Master Plan with the dedication of two public art bike racks during the event.

At noon that day, Camino and Cleveland 3D metal sculptor David Smith unveiled  Big Pink Yoga Dude and Yoga Dude Junior, the studio’s two new bike racks. Named by the artist, these sculptures are sure to be conversation pieces, thanks to their size and eye-catching color – opening the racks for use by all bicyclists in Lakewood.

A number of public officials and civic leaders participated in the ceremony -- Ohio District 13 State Rep. Nickie Antonio; City of Lakewood Mayor Michael Summers; Lakewood City Councilmen David Anderson and Tom Bullock; and Beck Center for the Arts CEO Lucinda Einhouse each provided remarks during the brief ceremony, which was followed by the reception, auction and raffle.

Bend for Beck is just the start of Pink Lotus Yoga’s ongoing involvement in community outreach through its new PLY Outreach Endeavor program. Each month the studio will select one non-profit organization to raise funds for in the studio through such modest, but effective, efforts as a “Change for Change” donation box set up in studio where students can make cash donations, as well as special, donation-only classes, where proceeds will go to that month’s designated charity.

Saturday’s “Bend for Beck” fundraiser was the first of two larger outreach events the studio will hold each year. The next fundraiser, scheduled for March, will focus on Harvest for Hunger.

“We had so much fun on Saturday that we’ve already started brainstorming for our next big event,” Camino says. “Pink Lotus Yoga always has something great in the works  -- both in our classes and in our PLY Outreach Endeavor activities. Be sure to keep an eye on us.”

For more information on Pink Lotus Yoga, visit www.pinklotusyoga.com.