Friday, May 17, is National Pizza Party Day, and Easterseals Rehabilitation Center is celebrating by asking the community to raise “dough” for children with disabilities.
“Everyone loves a pizza party, and our local pizza shops have really embraced this new fundraiser for Easterseals. We hope it will become an annual tradition,” Betsy Bethel-McFarland, Easterseals marketing director, said.
Owner Erika Donaghy is donating a portion of Friday’s sales from Original PJ’s Pizza in New Martinsville and Original PJ’s Varsity Pizza in Moundsville to Easterseals. For her, it’s personal. She is a former patient of Easterseals medical director Dr. Ellen Kitts, who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation.
“Easterseals and Dr. Kitts have had a huge impact on my life. I don’t think I would be able to walk if I never had the opportunity to be treated there,” Donaghy said. Kitts identified the underlying cause of Donaghy’s leg and foot pain, a diagnosis that eventually led to treatment that lessened the pain and improved her mobility.
While PJ’s is making a cash donation, other pizzerias are providing free pizza to local businesses who are holding internal fundraisers for Easterseals.
The Ohio County Schools administration office is marking the end of the school year by raising money for Easterseals in exchange for a pizza party provided by Vocelli’s in Wheeling.
Superintendent Dr. Kim Miller said she is happy to support the local charity that provides rehabilitative medical therapies to children with disabilities regardless of the family’s income.
“Their knowledge and expertise is essential for many children, and we always want to support our community facilities that do so much for our students,” Miller said.
In addition to Ohio County Schools, these businesses also are raising “dough” in exchange for free pizza: WTRF-TV 7, Rich and Shirley’s QuickPrint, Dr. Dan Joseph’s office, Richardson Copy Concepts, Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration, and Kalkreuth Roofing and Sheet Metal.
WTRF News Director Brenda Danehart said: “I am a proud to be a board member at Easterseals and watch all of the wonderful work they do with kids right here in our community. This fun National Pizza Party Day celebration is just a small way of giving back to an organization I have been a part of for decades. WTRF is proud to raise some money for an organization that does so much, for so many.”
WTRF will receive free pizza donated by DeFelice Brothers in Wheeling.
Other participating pizzerias are Little Caesars in Wheeling, Pizza Express in Bridgeport, Dominos, Greco’s and downtown DiCarlo’s.
“Events like National Pizza Party Day play a crucial role in sustaining our mission of never turning anyone away who needs quality healthcare,” Easterseals CEO Eric Filberto said. “Through fundraisers like this, our community sees a direct, positive impact. The demand for Easterseals’ services is significant, and we deeply appreciate the support of our generous community partners enabling us to fulfill this vital need.”
Anyone interested in donating directly to Easterseals for National Pizza Party Day is invited to contribute on the Easterseals West Virginia Facebook page through Monday, May 20. Every donation of at least $10 earns the donor a chance to win two large Dominos pizzas.
