Sunday Showdown

March 9, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

BOARDMAN

Local pizza establishments brought their talent and flavor to a contest to help children with autism.

The Potential Development Program agency hosted its sixth annual Mahoning Valley Pizza Cook-Off on Sunday afternoon at Mr. Anthony’s Banquet Center, 7440 South Ave.

All proceeds from ticket sales go to the Potential Development Program, said Shellie Duchek, a development officer for the agency.

“We couldn’t do this [event] without the pizzerias,” she said.

The agency has four sites in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, which serve about 135,000 children with developmental delays, challenging behaviors and autism spectrum disorder.

“There’s a real need to help these kids,” Duchek said.

The agency intends to raise more funds than last year, which was $54,000, she said.

There were 11 pizza establishments that competed to win at least one of the seven awards given out. Belleria Pizza & Italian Restaurant was last year’s winner for the Maestro Di Cucina award, or best overall.

The contest was not the main reason for Belleria’s participation, said Elizabeth Cerimele of the Girard location.

“We come to do it for the organization,” she said.

Aside from pizza, the event offered auctions, raffles and a cash bar to complement the food.

“It’s a great fundraiser,” Todd Marian of Poland said while enjoying a slice from Bruno Brothers.

While it’s Marian’s third time attending the cook-off, Mike Tacak of North Lima said he’s attended each year since its inception for its variety of pizzas.

“Youngstown is a big pizza venue,” he said.

On the other hand, Tacak said the event attracts so many people each year that its sells out quickly — and is overcrowded.

“They can make a lot more money at a bigger place,” he said.

Turnout for this year’s event was 1,300, Duchek said.

The number of attendees surprised Bo Pelini, Youngstown State University head football coach, who was among the 15-member panel of judges, which included John Greco, a Boardman High School graduate who plays for the Cleveland Browns, and Steve McGranahan from the “Fat N’ Furious” show on the Discovery Channel.

“What an unbelievable turnout,” Pelini said.