WHEELING — Easterseals Rehabilitation Center in Wheeling knows everyone loves pizza, and its current fundraiser is designed to capitalize on those cravings.
Easterseals is hosting an online fundraiser and several in-person events to help celebrate Pizza Party Day on Friday, May 15. All proceeds will be used to help the 89-year-old nonprofit provide life-changing medical rehabilitation therapies, medical services, and autism testing for Ohio Valley children.
The online fundraiser link is https://givebutter.com/eastersealspizzapartyday2026. This link also can be accessed on the Easterseals Facebook page. The link will be live through Monday, May 18. For every multiple of $5 a person donates, he or she will be entered to win a $40 gift card from one of the participating pizzerias.
In addition, in-person Pizza Party Day fundraisers already are underway at eight local businesses and organizations. These businesses are donating and/or asking employees to pitch in for a pizza party that will take place on Friday. The money will be donated to Easterseals, and seven local pizzerias will provide free pizza.
“Easterseals is blessed to have had the community’s support since we opened our doors to 10 children with cerebral palsy in 1937. Today, one-third of our budget is provided by community fundraisers, donations, and foundations,” Marketing Director Betsy Bethel-McFarland said. “Pizza Party Day is one of the newest ways we are inviting people to partner with us to fulfill our mission.”
The pizza restaurants that are donating pizza include: Little Caesar’s in Wheeling, DeFelice Brothers Pizza in Wheeling, DiCarlo’s in downtown Wheeling, Domino’s Pizza in Elm Grove, Greco’s in Wheeling, and Pizza Express in Bridgeport.
The businesses who are donating to Easterseals in exchange for free pizza are: Ohio County Schools Administration Office, WTRF-TV 7, RSQP Print and Design, Kalkreuth Roofing and Sheet Metal, Richardson’s Copy Concepts, McKinley Architecture and Engineering, Advanced Dentistry-Dr. Matthew Karnoupakis, and the Easterseals Board of Directors, which has its monthly meeting on May 15.
A final way people can participate is by patronizing Original PJ’s Pizza in Moundsville and New Martinsville on Friday, May 15. PJ’s is participating for the third time in National Pizza Party Day and will donate a portion of proceeds from restaurant sales May 15 to Easterseals.
Anyone interested in hosting a fundraiser for Easterseals or participating in a future Pizza Party Day event may contact Bethel-McFarland at 304-0242-1390 our bmcfarland@wv.easterseals.com.
