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Local celebrities serve for a cause
Photo
Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Pictured, from left, are Officer Jeff Toth, Shawne Wilfong, Aubrie and Lisa Oles at the Austintown Night Out second annual Celebrity Server Fundraiser at the Buffalo Wild Wings in Austintown on May 25.
By ALEXIS BARTOLOMUCCI
The Austintown Buffalo Wild Wings hosted the second annual Celebrity Sever Fundraiser on May 25 put on by the Austintown Night Out committee.
The Night Out event is a national event that occurs on the first Tuesday of August every year. It is put on by the police departments and community block watches. The event is to let the community members know that people are looking out for their neighborhoods and taking care of them to try and make them safe for everybody.
“It’s a way to bring the community together to meet the safety forces in a fun and enjoyable way, rather than meeting them in a bad way,” said Shawne Wilfong, part of the Austintown Night Out committee.
This is the second year in a row the Austintown Night Out committee has hosted a Celebrity Server Fundraiser to raise money for the Night Out event. The two celebrity servers this year were former Austintown Township Trustee Lisa Oles and current Trustee Jim Davis. The celebrities would help wait tables with fellow Buffalo Wild Wing servers and have a competition to see what celebrity would earn the most tops. Last year the fundraiser was at Pizza Hut and the celebrities were Davis and the Deanna Hosey, owner of Something Unique Florist.
Guests participating in the fundraiser would print out a coupon found on the Austintown Night Out Facebook page or by emailing the Night Out committee for a coupon. Those who brought in the coupon would have 15 percent of their bill donated to the Austintown Night Out fund. Around $300 was raised in the fundraiser last year and Wilfong is hoping to raise more money this year. The more money raised will allow the Night Out event to supply more games and activities.
“This year we are going to have ‘Frozen’ characters come out and also Captain Jack Sparrow. The kids can have their pictures taken with them and maybe have a Captain Jack look-a-like contest,” said Wilfong.
The fourth Austintown Night Out will be on Aug. 2 at the Austintown Township Park from 5-9 p.m. and is open and free to the public. There will be games and crafts for the children to take part in. Fire trucks, police cars, ambulances and other safety force vehicles will be available for people to explore and representatives for them to talk to and learn about.