Sixth Annual Pizza Wars to Raise Much Needed Funds for over Fifty Homeless Students and Others in Need in the District 219 Area

It doesn’t seem possible in this day and age, but over fifty students in the school District 219 area are currently homeless. The District 219 Education Foundation http://www.219foundation.org/ wants to help these students and the many others in need with the sixth annual food-focused fundraiser, Pizza Wars 6, to take place Wednesday, January 20, 2016, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Niles North High School main gymnasium at 9800 Lawler Avenue in Skokie. Pizza Wars has become the District 219 Education Foundation’s signature annual fundraiser, assisting children in need in the Niles Township area servicing the villages of Skokie, Morton Grove, Lincolnwood, Niles, and Golf.

Over 1000 people attended the fifth annual Pizza Wars in 2015 and sampled pizza from ten of the township’s pizzerias, all while raising over $17,500 for the 219 District Education Foundation. This year, Pizza Wars 6 hopes to break the $20,000 mark. Each year around ten area pizza restaurants participate in Pizza Wars, bringing their signature pizza to the competition. The 2015 Pizza War winner was Father & Son Italian Kitchen http://www.fatherandson.com/. Will they reign “Supreme” again? This year’s contenders will include: Bar Louie, Father & Son Italian Kitchen, Gulliver’s, Jet's Pizza, Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, OrganicLife, Riggio’s, Village Inn Pizzeria, and Wa-Pa-Getti's, plus Costco and Nothing Bundt Cakes will provide water and dessert.

Pizza Wars 6 will commence with a cheesy standoff between the four area mayors in a fierce pizza eating battle to see who can consume the most pizza in five minutes. Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen, Morton Grove Mayor Daniel DiMaria, Lincolnwood Mayor Jerry Turry, and Niles Mayor Andrew Przybylo will once again participate. After the mayoral showdown, attendees will enjoy pizza tastings from the participating pizzerias and cast their single vote for best pizza. The trophy for the winning pizza will be awarded at 7:30 p.m.

Advance tickets for Pizza Wars 6 are now on sale for only $12 per person, but will be $15 per person at the door. The evening will also feature live entertainment from the Niles North High School and Niles West High School student bands. Tickets may be purchased on the 219 District Education Foundation website at http://www.219foundation.org/.

Attendees are encouraged to bring in nonperishable food items and those doing so will receive a free raffle ticket. Additional raffle tickets will be sold, $3 for one or $5 for two, for chances to win gift cards and other prizes. Sponsorship opportunities are currently available for a donation at levels of $350 and $500.

Although Pizza Wars is a family-friendly, fun event, the purpose behind Pizza Wars should not be taken lightly. The 219 District Education Foundation raises funds for students who are in critical need. When the foundation was formed in 2007, the goal was to provide the basic tools of education; however the situation has become more severe in recent years. There is an increasing need for the foundation to provide money for food as well as financial assistance to student’s families that have fallen on difficult times. Over 37% of the students within Niles Township are in need of everyday supplies and unfortunately, the need continues to grow. The foundation has awarded over $160,000 in grants and scholarships. It does indeed take a village to raise a child.