As part of our Mission, we are proud to hold monthly Charity Days to benefit various local nonprofits. What follows is a listing of past and upcoming events. We encourage you to support these organizations directly and by participating in the Charity Days. Many also include links with which you may learn about their missions and goals.
Recently, Pizza Today featured our mission in an article entitled "Just Cause" (PDF, source: Pizza Today, April, 2009). We urge you to read it and encourage others to join the movement and support those businesspeople who give back to their community in whatever way they can. We appreciate your support!
We are seeking other local not-for-profits to sign up for future events. Simply call us at 636-3708 and arrange a meeting to discuss the needs and missions.
The St. William conference of St. Vincent de Paul will be the beneficiary of this month's Charity Day on Thursday, May 13th. The conference provides rent and utility assistance to our neighbors in the 40210 zip code, an area on the west end hit hard by the recession. Ten percent of the entire day's sales will be donated. Lunch is served 11-2 and dinner 4-9. Please join us!
On Wednesday, April 14th, we are holding our Charity event to benefit the Friends of Casa Materna, an agency in Matagalpa, Nicaragua, that aids in the safe and healthy delivery of babies to high-risk women. Kitty Madden, a long-time friend and volunteer of Casa, will be having dinner with the St. William Catholic Church committee that evening. It is an annual social event for them but feel free to come by and meet her. In August, I will be traveling to Nicaragua and will visit the Casa to meet the staff and women of this invaluable service.
On Sunday, March 14th, for the third year in a row, I will be having my head shaved to benefit St. Baldrick's Foundation to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer. You can help by logging on to our team at www.stbaldricks.org, click on "Make a Donation" in the blue box at the top, the green "Donate" button under "Donor List", or you can click on "View all team members" to the top right and make a donation for an individual on the team. Bonus! You can join the team with the green "Participate with this team" button. Added bonus! If you join the team as a shavee, you are automatically invited to the pizza party. Also, on Thursday, March 11th, Windy City will donate ten percent of the day's sales to the foundation. If you donate $25 or more, you will be invited to an "after-shave" pizza party on the 14th at the restaurant. The pizza party will begin at 4pm on March 14th! I thank you in advance!
Oh yes! There will be pictures later :)
And here they are!
Back Row; Phil, Christopher, Michael, Matt, and Jim. Front Row; Ben and Nate
Back Row; Christopher, Phil, Matt, Jim, and Michael. Front Row; Ben and Nate
Catholic Relief Services' work in the recovery from the Haiti earthquake will benefit on Thursday, February 11. Ten percent of the day's sales will be donated to the effort in the areas affected by the earthquake of January 5th. The money raised will not fully address the problems faced by the country but every dollar helps. Consider making your dining dollar go a bit further. Thanks much!
The Nutrition Project in Esquipulas, Nicaragua was begun through funding and visits by members of St. William Church in Louisville in the mid-1990's. The purpose was to train and supply resources to families in this mountainous region of Central America to begin raising healthy food in their own community to combat childhood malnutrition and low birth weight. Dozens of families now participate and the Nutrition Project continues expanding the availability. This, with the Organic, Silo, Health Clinic and Seed programs, has enabled residents to achieve better health and financial stability.
Please join us for lunch or dinner on January 20th and support those in our sister parish. 10 percent of the entire day's sales, including dine-in, carry-out and delivery orders, will be donated.
We are proud to be once again participating in the annual Dining Out for Life on Wednesday, December 2nd. Each December, dozens of local restaurants take part in this fund-raising effort to benefit House of Ruth and Glade House. We each donate a portion of our sales that day to support the efforts of these two facilities to provide a safe and healthy environment in which people with HIV and AIDS can live and thrive. This is our eleventh year participating and we look forward to a fun-filled and meaningful day. If you are unable to join us that day, support any of the participating restaurants, a list of which can be found at www.diningoutforlife.com/louisville/. Thank you.
Thursday, October 15, and Wednesday, November 18 are our next Charity Days to benefit the St. William conference of St. Vincent de Paul. We are finding that this organization has been meeting our mission statement of helping our neighbors who need it the most in the most timely manner, so we continue to support their work through direct donations. Your joining us for the day will help further our cause, as every dollar you spend here on quality meals translates into immediate assistance for our fellow Louisvillians who most desperately need it. Thanks in advance!
On Thursday, September 10, we will be raising funds to support the 2009 Louisville AIDS Walk. The walk itself is Sunday, September13, stepping off the Belvedere at 3 p.m. The ten percent of the sales on the 10th will be donated to the Walk in your name. Details about taking part in the day's event and the Walk's mission can be viewed at www.louisvilleaidswalk.org. We look forward to seeing you!
The St. William conference of St. Vincent de Paul will be the Charity of the month during July, and August. On Wednesday, July 16th and Thursday, August 26th, ten percent of the day's sales will be donated to this fund, used to aid those in the West End zip code of 40210. The money is spent keeping at-risk residents in their homes through assistance in paying rent and utility bills. A team of St. William parishioners reviews the needs of applicants through interviews and home visits to assure that the money is spent where the need is greatest. Please show your support and join us on any of the summer Charity Days. Thank you!
On Wednesday, June 17, we are proud to be, once turning our attention to supporting Crossroads Ministry, a peace- and justice-based retreat center for the young people of our community. Run as an adjunct of St. William Catholic Church in the California neighborhood on West Oak Street, CrossRoads has been offering day-long, weekend and week-long retreats for high school and college students for about eight years. Participants encounter life on the margins, interacting with the poor, homeless and forgotten members of the Louisville community. We are extremely proud to offer ten percent of the entire day's sales in support of this unique and vital community service.
Details about CrossRoads can be accessed at www.stwilliamchurch.org/crossroads. We look forward to seeing you on the 17th!
On Thursday, May 21st, the Louisville chapter of Big Brothers/Big Sisters will be our featured Charity of the Month. BBBS works to bring adults and youth together in a mentoring relationship. Over 100 years strong, it plays an integral role in making our community and the youth of Louisville safer, healthier and more productive. You can view their website at http://www.bbbsky.org. Click on "Events" to see details about our event. We hope you can join us on May 21st to lend Big Brothers/Big Sisters a helping hand!
On Wednesday, April 22, we'll be bringing our Charity closer to home, donating 10% of the day's sales to the St. William conference of St. Vincent de Paul. The donation will be used to help those in the West End 40210 zip code with rent and utility payments. Our hope is to keep families in their homes with the power on and water flowing. Your help goes a long way in making Louisville a kinder place in which to live. Join us!
I had so much fun last year that, once again, I will be having my head shaved on Sunday, March 15, at Fourth Street Live to raise money for St. Baldrick's Foundation. We raised over $2500 last in 2008 (see below) and I hope to top that total this year. There are a number of ways to get involved. The easiest is to visit and pledge your support on my web page. You can also give checks made out to St. Baldrick's to me at the restaurant. The last and most fun is to join us for lunch or dinner on Wednesday, March 11, and ten percent of your check will be donated for you.
Those who donate $25 or more will once again be invited to a pizza party after the shaving. It will begin at 4 p.m., Sunday, March 15, at the restaurant. This is an invitation-only event and is to extend my appreciation for your support. We had a great time at the party last year and I look forward to another fun one this time!
Thanks so much for your support!
Matt
On Thursday, February 19, we are proud to be holding another Charity Day to support our commitment to the Post-Katrina Mississippi Gulf Coast partnership with the St. William Church. I have been down to the area five times so far and I am planning another trip or two in the coming months (that's why we're closed on some Tuesdays and Wednesdays from time to time). The money that we donate to the partnership is direct aid to homeowners in the Pass Christian/Bay St. Louis area of the Gulf Coast with whom we have worked and supported during the three and a half years since the hurricane. It is always used to buy materials to rebuild or to secure permits to begin their projects, so you can be sure that it is wisely and appropriately spent. Please plan to join us that day...your meal will go much further than you could imagine!
On an additional note, Mrs. Pat Ladner, a resident of Kiln, Mississippi and our "angel in disguise", will be visiting Louisville the following weekend, February 20-22, and will be addressing the St. William community following our 9:00 am liturgy on that Sunday. Pat has been an advocate for the area and our strongest and most reliable witness to the redevelopment of the Gulf Coast. We look to her for guidance and work projects when we visit and we owe her so much. I welcome you to join us for an insightful journey into the dreams fulfilled and those still waiting to be realized. Please call the restaurant for full details...636-3708. St. William is located at 1218 West Oak Street.
Thanks so much,
Matthew
Neighborhood House provides programs and services, which enhance the quality of life for individuals of all ages in the Portland area. Our programs and services focus on educational enhancement, health promotion, social skills development and employment training and opportunities. We have been in the Portland community of Jefferson County since the mid-1960s serving as the community center, hosting numerous community events and meetings. Our programs include:
When Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans and the Gulf Coast almost three years ago, it was a disaster of epic proportions. Even more disastrous has been the recovery effort. I've been to the Mississippi coast with the St. William Catholic Church Mississippi Partnership four times in the last 18 months and have seen firsthand the devastation and lent a helping hand to some of those struggling to put a solid roof over their heads and floor under their feet. Through the generosity of the St. William community and leadership, we were awarded a $4000 grant to help in these efforts. One woman who has been attempting to rebuild since the storm, Miss Wesler, caught our attention. She needed almost $9000 to buy materials and hire craftsmen to begin building her new home. We agreed to get her started with the grant money available but needs more assistance.
On Thursday, July 17th, we are proud to announce our Charity of the Month for the benefit of Miss Wesner. Ten percent of the entire day's gross sales will be donated to her effort to begin her new life. We'd love for you to join us in helping get her back on her feet. Join us for lunch or dinner, here in our dining room or in your home, delivered or carried out. We guarantee we won't be able to raise the $5000 she needs to finish her home but we're proud to be helping to make a dent!
Miss Wesner sent this letter to the St. William community...
To St. William Church,
I would like to thank each and everyone who kindly made donations to make it possible for the rebuild of my home. I am so excited to see this happening that it still seems unreal. I have been living in a trailer park in a RV since the storm, I miss being at home dearly. It has been exciting to even get my permits and house plans!! I will send pictures to your church when my house is complete, without people like you people like me may not have this great chance to recover and so I want you all to know just how much your generosity is appreciated. I thank God that your kindness will make such a great difference in mine and my families life's. Thank you so so much again, and God bless every one of you. I will be sure to include you and your church in my prayers and thank God for people like all of you!!!
God Bless,
Mary Wesner
Catholic Charities of Louisville is sponsoring the Sixth Annual "Just Pedal Bicycle Tour" on June 22nd.
The tour will begin at Bellarmine University and loop 12 or 20 miles through the Highlands.
We are proud to be a leading sponsor of this event and to be holding our Charity of the Month for June on Wednesday,
June 18th, to raise more funds and awareness of the event.
Registration for the tour is $25, which includes a bike tour t-shirt and a ticket to the show at the Comedy Caravan on the evening of the 22nd at 6:30. For those of you who don't cycle, you can support the tour with a meal at the restaurant on the 18th or buy a $25 ticket to the Comedy Caravan, which includes dinner and the show. It promises to be a great day for everyone involved.
Registration for the tour and tickets are available through Bart at Catholic Charities, 636-9786.
The first few years in the lives of babies are very important. It’s the time when they are learning to walk, talk, recognize people and many other developmental tasks. Some babies may have trouble developing certain skills because they were born very premature or with a disability like cerebral palsy or Down Syndrome. FIRST STEPS provides the help needed by infants and toddlers with special needs. FIRST STEPS provides evaluation and assessment, developmental intervention, speech/occupational/physical therapies, assistive technology and other services for young children with special needs to maximize their growth and development. By getting the help they need from FIRST STEPS very early in life, many of these babies reach their developmental milestones and can begin school ready and able to learn.
We are extremely proud to announce that the FIRST STEPS program of Seven Counties will be our Charity of the Month for May. Known by its full name, “First Steps point of Entry and Primary Service Coordination”, it serves as a referral agency for children birth through two years old who have developmental delays or medical conditions known to cause delays. Most, if not all, services are provided free-of-charge to families most in need.
This month’s fundraiser will support FIRST STEPS in purchasing story and picture books for young children who are learning English. Professionals who provide early intervention for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities will show families how to use the books to stimulate language skills in their children.
As the Commonwealth has been cutting back funding for this type of social service in the upcoming budget cycle, it is crucial that agencies like FIRST STEPS find ways to bridge the funding gap in sometimes creative ways. We are proud to be a part of keeping these services available to those in our community most at risk. Our good friend and frequent customer, Sandy Mlinarcik, is vice president of Seven Counties’ Developmental Services department and is an inspiration to us. Please consider joining us on the 22nd, in person or over the phone. Ten percent of the day’s gross sales will be donated, so every pizza, pasta and hoagie you order will go towards this exceptional program. More info can be accessed at Seven Counties’ website, www.sevencounties.org. Thank you so much in advance!
On Wednesday, April 16th, we are proud to be holding our Monthly
Charity event to benefit the St. William conference of the Society of
St. Vincent dePaul. We will be donating 10% of the day's
gross sales to this organization, which aids in providing emergency
funding to the neediest residents of the 40210 West End neighborhood
who need assistance in the payment of their utility and rent payments
in order to avoid eviction or shutoffs of power, gas or
water. We feature this Charity quite often as the funds
donated are entirely provided to those in the direst of situations with
hardly any overhead that funnels money away. It is indeed
the most direct way to provide for the least of our neighbors, who go
through a rigorous screening process, including home assessments, to
qualify for assistance. Please mark your calendar to make
your dining dollars go to good works!
On Sunday, March 16th, Louisville and a host of cities nationwide will
sponsor head-shaving events in support of the St. Baldrick's
Foundation, an organization dedicated to raising awareness of and
research into finding cures for childhood
cancer. Participants, “shavees”, solicit sponsorships for
the foundation and have their heads shaved in a show of solidarity with
the youngsters afflicted with cancer.
This year, for the first time I, Matthew Ptasienski, owner of Windy City Pizzeria, am taking part in this extravaganza. Sporting over 18 months of uncut hair, I will have it shaved off at Fourth Street Live that afternoon. My hair will then be donated to Locks of Love, an agency that makes wigs for many of these same kids. I am looking for sponsors in support of this very worthwhile cause.
This sounds wonderful. How can you help?
Visit my sponsorship page and make a donation
from now through March 16th! You can also come see me have
my head shaved at the Fourth Street Live event. I will post
more details when I know what time slot I have. Or, you can
just come down and enjoy the whole thing! The general
schedule is below.
| Sunday, March 16th | St. Baldrick's Day 2008 at Fourth Street Live |
| 2:00 pm | Opening ceremony with Dawne Gee |
| Face painting, body tattoos, green hairspray station | |
| 2:30 pm | The head shaving begins! |
| The timeslots will be in 1 hour increments, 2-3pm, 3-4pm, 4-5pm, and 5-6pm. | |
As an additional incentive, anyone donating
at least $20 to the St. Baldrick's Foundation in my name is invited to
a pizza/pasta party at the restaurant that evening, March 16th, after
my head shaving. The party will run from 5:30-7:30 pm that
Sunday. Please let me know if you will be attending.
On Wednesday,
March 19th, Windy City Pizzeria will hold its monthly Charity Day to
benefit the St. Baldrick's Foundation. All day, ten percent
of the day’s gross profits will be donated.
See! Three different ways to participate in this great event! Sponsor me and enjoy the party that evening. Watch me get shaved. Order lunch or dinner on the 19th. You can even watch the sheering in action. And, hey, if you have any questions, feel free to give me a call at 502-636-3708. Be a part of the fun and support the St. Baldrick's Foundation in 2008!
