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Date: 1/27/2021
ENFIELD, CT – The Educational Resources for Children (ERfC) are teaming up with Golden Irene’s Restaurant for a fundraiser pizza contest in honor of National Pizza Day on Feb. 9.
"We just really wanted to play in on the fun of that and make this a fun fundraiser,” said Marketing and Social Media Coordinator Danielle Flaherty.
“We're getting families together doing something fun which is much needed with the virus going on,” added Community Development Manager Connie Provencher. “We wanted to do something like a little fundraiser by getting the kids involved. We wanted the kids to see how to do a fundraiser, how to make a pizza and how to get a pizza on a menu while doing something together with their families. We can’t wait to see what great ideas everyone has for pizzas.”
The ERfC is a nonprofit offering various out-of-school time programs for students and families in Enfield. In addition, they offer summer camps and community engagement events such as their Fall for Enfield festival, backpack drives and free lunch and dinner events.
More recently due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ERfC started off with their Distance Learning Center (DLC) at the Enfield Annex, which served as a place for students of Enfield surrounding communities to go during remote learning and non-federal holidays while parents and guardians work. They provide assistance with remote learning as well as fun, enrichment activities before school, after school and during down time hours.
ERfC is asking children, adults, and families to make a pizza and submit their creation on Facebook. The contest runs through Feb. 7. Voting will take place Feb. 8 and 9 and the winners will be announced the afternoon of Feb. 9.
“We brainstormed with owner George Akkouris at Golden Irene’s to come up with this idea,” Provencher explained. “He is doing the pizza kits for us. Then each child, adult or family can pick the toppings of their choice. George is selling these kits at his restaurant for $6 and he’s giving a dollar back from each sale to ERfC. He’s also putting the Grand Prize pizza on the Golden Irene’s menu and 10 percent from each pizza sold while on the menu will benefit the ERfC Out-of-School Time Scholarship Fund.”
Flaherty added, “The ERfC Out-of-School Time Scholarship fund allows us to be able to provide a reduced rate for families who may need a little extra help back to keep their kids safe when they're working.”
She continued, “As we were talking with him about this program and the fundraiser and what we want to do for the fundraiser, George had the great idea of coming and showing the kids how to make a pizza and to teach them the history of pizza. I think he’s really drawing in on the excitement of his own kids as well for this fundraiser.”
Golden Irene’s Restaurant in East Windsor, CT, first opened in 1982. Chef George Akkouris has been the owner for 16 years. Originally, the restaurant only sold Greek-style pan pizzas. Just a month before COVID started Akkouris said they were experimenting with a New York style pizza that is their current number one seller. Right now, their Brooklyn style pizza with thin crust is their forte and the majority of their business.
Akkouris shared, “Enfield is filled with great pizza places. We’re always willing to help out a good cause to see if there’s anything we can do to help raise money for them and spread the love of our pizza to the younger generation. We had a couple of meetings and we thought this was a great idea to keep social distancing and protect everybody, but also encourage a pretty big contest for people of all ages.”
On Jan. 20, Akkouris brought his wood fire oven to the Distance Learning Center and made pizzas for the children. He showed them how to make pizzas in the oven and how to use the dough so that they feel at ease making a pizza at home.
Participants can call Golden Irene's at 860-627-5971 to order their pizza kit which includes dough and sauce. They can make their own dough as well. This is only for those who don’t have the time to pick up their kits from Tuesday to Thursday at the restaurant.
Flaherty and Provencher said they really want the adults and children to use their creative capabilities and make whatever combination or toppings they want. Once they make the pizzas, they have to take a photo of it and post the photo on Facebook with the tag “ERfC Community News” and #ERfCpizza by Feb. 7. They can also email photos to communitynews@erfc.us and include the list of toppings and the pizza chef’s name. Flaherty will then take all the photos they posted and put them in a Facebook album on the ERfC Community News page. Participants will have until Feb.8 to the morning of Feb. 9 to share the pictures and have as many people like and comment on the original photo Flaherty posted as possible. From there, ERfC are going to take the five top finalists by popular vote and give them to Chef Akkouris who will pick the three prize winners.
Third place winner will receive a pizza family game. The second place winner will get a pizza themed gift basket, and the grand prize winner will get their pizza on the Golden Irene’s menu, a Golden Irene’s T-shirt and gift card.
“The winner’s pizza will be on the menu for a minimum of a month, but it could be longer. The pizza could be a permanent fixture on the restaurant’s menu if people really enjoy it and think it’s that good.” said Akkouris.
Pizza Kits are available through Feb. 4 and social media submissions will be accepted until Feb. 7.
For questions, call 860-253-9935 or email cprovencher@erfc.us. Golden Irene’s is located at 18 Mullen Rd. in East Windsor.