PizzaFest ala Evanston Rotary at Gigio's May 22

Incoming Rotary Club of Evanston president
Michele Berg, with outgoing club president Dick Peach,
at last year's eat-a-thon. [Photo by Ada P. Kahn]

Evanston's annual May all-you-can-eat pizza and pop extravaganza is a go for Tuesday, May 22 at Gigio's Pizzeria, at Davis and Maple. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and close at 8:30 p.m. Go having combed your hair, washed your face and wearing a clean outfit, because lots of pictures will be made at this party. Last year's doings can be seen online.

The big cheeses expected to serve up the slices include Rotary International's John Hewko and Evanston Community Foundation's Monique B. Jones, and Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse's Aina Gutierrez, as well as Evanston's own Mayor Steve Hagerty, Alderman Peter Braithwaite and one of Evanston's unofficial mayors, Dick Peach.

Organized by the Rotary Club of Evanston, tickets to this eat-a-thon run $20 for adults and $12 for kids, if you purchase from a club member or online before May 22. Tickets at the door will cost a bit more.

Funds raised will support community projects and initiatives vital to the well-being of all of those in Evanston.

Past and recent beneficiaries include James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy, Family Focus Evanston, On Your Feet Foundation, Curt's Cafe South, Evanston Food Exchange, The Ridgeville Foundation, Park School PTA, School for Little Children, Youth & Opportunity United/Y.O.U., Mudlark Theater Company and Youth Job Center.

The Evanston RoundTable ran a piece about the club's recent philanthropy.

Rehabbing homes for low-income families, cleaned-up beaches, packing backpacks of school supplies for K-12 students, planting trees, maintaining Evanston's International Friendship Garden and raising funds for not-for-profit organizations addressing issues from illiteracy to HIV/AIDS to homelessness, poverty, and gang violence are some of the other things Rotary Club of Evanston does locally.

Through the network of 35,000+ clubs connected through Rotary International--which just happens to be headquartered at Sherman and Grove--the Rotary Club of Evanston and the Evanston Lighthouse Rotary Club partner with other clubs to do what they can to tackle the world's most pressing humanitarian challenges, which include eradicating polio, disaster relief, clean water and micro-enterprise in Kenya, and upgrading health care systems in Guatemala.

Most of the humanitarian efforts Rotarians work on globally fall under six areas of focus: peace and conflict prevention/resolution, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, and economic and community development.

To donate to the Rotary Club of Evanston (or a buy a ticket to PizzaFest), you can go online. Another way to donate is to walk a check over to Dick Peach at Dempster Auto Rebuilders before July 20. In exchange you can get a hug, but if you're not into that, he'll shake your hand.