THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 5, 1996 TAG: 9604040123
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
A pizza restaurant on Atlantic Avenue and a group of young Christian singles have joined hands to raise money for the homeless.
A campaign to help the homeless and the hungry kicked off last week at Doughboy's California Pizza on the resort strip.
Co-sponsored by KOYA and the restaurant, the reggae pizza party lasted from 6 until 9 p.m. The cost of admission was one canned good and $5, which bought the diners all the pizza they could eat that night.
The fund-raising effort will continue until May 24. During that time diners who bring one canned good or nonperishable item to Doughboy's will receive $2 off their bill if it totals at least $15. Doughboy's will contribute $1 of that to the needy.
Denise Parry and about 50 other single people founded KOYA, a club for young Christians that would allow them to socialize and make a contribution to the community. KOYA, Keep Our Youth Alive, began last June, said Parry. The socializing has gone well, and now efforts for the betterment of the community are under way.
``George (Kotarides) knew Denise and they got together and decided to do this,'' said Randy Fajotina, manager of the restaurant on Atlantic Avenue near 24th Street. Kotarides owns the restaurant and another at Atlantic Avenue and 19th Street. His offer to help the homeless and hungry is good at both restaurants.
Kotarides gave the kick-off a boost by donating an additional $1 for every patron who attended the opening night fete.
``Actually, we will split the proceeds 50/50 between the KOYA drive and Judeo-Christian Outreach Center,'' Kotarides said.
Parry, coordinator of the fund-raiser for KOYA, was assisted on opening night by members of the group, including Tony Goodwin and Jill Cote. They greeted patrons at the door and spread the word about their benevolent cause.
``We formed to offer an outlet for young single Christians,'' said Parry, co-chairman of the hunger drive along with Fajotina. ``Helping others who are less fortunate is a big part of our mission, too.''
She added that the KOYA is non-denominational.
Doughboy's will host a second special night for the hunger campaign this month. On April 25, customers can sample wines from the world and listen to more reggae music. Donations of $15 will be accepted.
``We'll be serving wines from Australia, Chile, Italy, France and Germany, as well as America,'' said Kotarides. ``We don't know yet what portion of the $15 will go to the hunger drive, but it will be more than the dollar we donated during the kick-off.''
Parry said she received $10 from a couple who had arrived to eat before the initial party started and who were unaware of the drive.
That donation was part of the $250 received that evening.
Kotarides said, ``We filled one 60-gallon trash can and part of another, so it was successful, if not spectacular.'' MEMO: For more information on the Hungry and Homeless campaign, call
Doughboy's, 425-7108, or Virginia Beach United Methodist Church,
428-7777. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY EDWARDS
Denise Parry, left, Tony Goodwin and Jill Cote of Keep Our Youth
Alive (KOYA) celebrate the kickoff of their campaign for the hungry
and homeless at Doughboy's California Pizza at the Oceanfront.
by CNB