Pizza Showdown garners support for Catholic education
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Rose O’Connor | Correspondent
Who doesn’t like pizza? That’s what the members of the Holy Angels and St. Raphael Alumni Association decided two years ago when they held their first Pizza Showdown Contest, a fundraiser to benefit the Student Awards Fund.
This year, the Pizza Showdown contest, held Oct. 14 in the parish center on the campus of St. Raphael Parish, Hamilton, featured five area pizzerias all who donated their pizzas, time and talents to the Holy Angels and St. Raphael parish communities.
The attendees sampled the delicious food from Jeppy’s Gourmet Pizza Shop, Trenton, Marcello’s Restaurant, Bordentown, Nino’s Trattoria and Pizzeria, Hamilton, Sabrina’s Pizza of Hamilton, and Villa Mannino Ristorante, Bordentown. Once they sampled the local fare, they were able to vote on their favorite pizzeria by placing a poker chip in the box featuring the restaurant’s name.
Various types of pizzas were offered for sampling, as guests happily sampled the many offerings of their local favorites.
This year, the top prize of “favorite pizza” was awarded to Nino’s Trattoria and Pizzeria. Second place honors was bestowed on Jeppy’s Gourmet Pizza Shop, last year’s victor of the Pizza Showdown.
“This was my big idea,” Marlene DeAngelis, member of the Alumni Association and event co-chair, laughed.
When discussing ideas for an Alumni Association event, “I thought, why not pizza? Everyone loves pizza!” Later the idea of a competition between the local restaurants was established.
“As alumni we wanted to do something to benefit our school and recent alumni,” Colleen White, event co-chair explained. “We are so grateful to all of the pizzerias who donated money, their products and time.”
White, who has two children who are alumni of St. Raphael School and three children currently enrolled, is a founding member of the Holy Angels and Saint Raphael Alumni Association, established in 2012. The group has held gatherings and events designed to bring together graduates of the two schools and alumni dating back to 1939.
The association has also have taken on the task of archiving photos, memorabilia and yearbooks, some of which date back to the 1920s.
In addition to preserving the past and celebrating memories of the school, the Alumni Association also presents two graduates of St. Raphael School with a Student Award. They are currently raising funds to award two members of the Class of 2016 with a monetary award in June.
Father John Chang, pastor of St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, enjoyed the evening speaking with school alumni, current students and families, parishioners, and sampling the local fare.
“This is great,” he said, surveying the parish center which was decorated to resemble an Italian Bistro with Italian music filling the room. “The Alumni Association is a wonderful organization and did a great job with all of the events.”
“They do what they do to help Saint Raphael School and to fund scholarships. I am very grateful to them for all of their support,” said Father Chang.
Jennifer Sidone was also pleased to support the fundraiser as a mother of three graduates and currently has a fifth grade student in the school.
“We are very active in our school, “she said. “We do everything we can to support St. Raphael School.”
Alumni of the school were also eager to participate in the Pizza Showdown and continue to support their beloved school.
Kathleen Chaconis, an alumna and sponsor of the fundraiser, believes in the value of receiving a Catholic education because it “is so important. The school gives them a basis for their faith and structure.”
Angelo Persichilli appreciates the fellowship the Alumni events offer.
“I like the camaraderie of the high school parishioners and alumni,” he said.
Persichilli, the father of three graduates, continued, “It’s good for the high school students to come together and meet.”
As one may imagine, the bragging rights of wining “Best Pizza” could create a competitive and contentious atmosphere among the local vendors, but as the attendees took on the arduous task of selecting the best, the restauranteurs maintained a jovial and good-natured sense of humor during the showdown.
“We’re here to show our support,” Joseph Ciccia of Jeppy’s Gourmet Pizza said earnestly. “We’re just here to help the kids.”
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By Rose O’Connor | Correspondent
Who doesn’t like pizza? That’s what the members of the Holy Angels and St. Raphael Alumni Association decided two years ago when they held their first Pizza Showdown Contest, a fundraiser to benefit the Student Awards Fund.
This year, the Pizza Showdown contest, held Oct. 14 in the parish center on the campus of St. Raphael Parish, Hamilton, featured five area pizzerias all who donated their pizzas, time and talents to the Holy Angels and St. Raphael parish communities.
The attendees sampled the delicious food from Jeppy’s Gourmet Pizza Shop, Trenton, Marcello’s Restaurant, Bordentown, Nino’s Trattoria and Pizzeria, Hamilton, Sabrina’s Pizza of Hamilton, and Villa Mannino Ristorante, Bordentown. Once they sampled the local fare, they were able to vote on their favorite pizzeria by placing a poker chip in the box featuring the restaurant’s name.
Various types of pizzas were offered for sampling, as guests happily sampled the many offerings of their local favorites.
This year, the top prize of “favorite pizza” was awarded to Nino’s Trattoria and Pizzeria. Second place honors was bestowed on Jeppy’s Gourmet Pizza Shop, last year’s victor of the Pizza Showdown.
“This was my big idea,” Marlene DeAngelis, member of the Alumni Association and event co-chair, laughed.
When discussing ideas for an Alumni Association event, “I thought, why not pizza? Everyone loves pizza!” Later the idea of a competition between the local restaurants was established.
“As alumni we wanted to do something to benefit our school and recent alumni,” Colleen White, event co-chair explained. “We are so grateful to all of the pizzerias who donated money, their products and time.”
White, who has two children who are alumni of St. Raphael School and three children currently enrolled, is a founding member of the Holy Angels and Saint Raphael Alumni Association, established in 2012. The group has held gatherings and events designed to bring together graduates of the two schools and alumni dating back to 1939.
The association has also have taken on the task of archiving photos, memorabilia and yearbooks, some of which date back to the 1920s.
In addition to preserving the past and celebrating memories of the school, the Alumni Association also presents two graduates of St. Raphael School with a Student Award. They are currently raising funds to award two members of the Class of 2016 with a monetary award in June.
Father John Chang, pastor of St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, enjoyed the evening speaking with school alumni, current students and families, parishioners, and sampling the local fare.
“This is great,” he said, surveying the parish center which was decorated to resemble an Italian Bistro with Italian music filling the room. “The Alumni Association is a wonderful organization and did a great job with all of the events.”
“They do what they do to help Saint Raphael School and to fund scholarships. I am very grateful to them for all of their support,” said Father Chang.
Jennifer Sidone was also pleased to support the fundraiser as a mother of three graduates and currently has a fifth grade student in the school.
“We are very active in our school, “she said. “We do everything we can to support St. Raphael School.”
Alumni of the school were also eager to participate in the Pizza Showdown and continue to support their beloved school.
Kathleen Chaconis, an alumna and sponsor of the fundraiser, believes in the value of receiving a Catholic education because it “is so important. The school gives them a basis for their faith and structure.”
Angelo Persichilli appreciates the fellowship the Alumni events offer.
“I like the camaraderie of the high school parishioners and alumni,” he said.
Persichilli, the father of three graduates, continued, “It’s good for the high school students to come together and meet.”
As one may imagine, the bragging rights of wining “Best Pizza” could create a competitive and contentious atmosphere among the local vendors, but as the attendees took on the arduous task of selecting the best, the restauranteurs maintained a jovial and good-natured sense of humor during the showdown.
“We’re here to show our support,” Joseph Ciccia of Jeppy’s Gourmet Pizza said earnestly. “We’re just here to help the kids.”
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