WHO: Mayor of Chicago Brandon Johnson joins Home Run Inn (HRI), the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) in addition to the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and the Chicago Fire Department (CFD).
Media Opportunities: August 21, 2023 – Food & Beverage Magazine
WHAT: Home Run Inn sends thousands of CPS students home on the first day of school with one of their favorite treats – a Home Run Inn pizza. Chicago Police Department and Chicago Fire Department members will distribute 6000 pizzas to students at 25 elementary schools on the South and West sides with support from this popular 76-year-old Chicago business, DFSS, and CPS.
WHEN/WHERE: Monday, August 21
- 1:30 p.m. (until 3:00 p.m.) – Chicago Police and Fire Department vehicles begin pick up of 3,000 Home Run Inn pizzas at the DFSS Dr. Martin Luther King Community Service Center, 4314 S Cottage Grove Ave.
- DFSS Commissioner Brandie Knazze in attendance.
- Gina (Perrino) Bolger, Senior Vice President and fourth-generation family member of Home Run Inn in attendance.
- 3:00 – 3:15 p.m. – MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON personally hands out the first batch of pizzas, along with the Chicago Police Department, to students at Robinson Elementary School, 4225 S. Lake Park Ave.
- School principal Gretta Ellis in attendance.
- DFSS Commissioner Brandie Knazze in attendance.
- Gina (Perrino) Bolger, Senior Vice President and fourth-generation family member of Home Run Inn in attendance.
SPECIFICS:
- An additional 3,000 pizzas will be picked up by the CPD and CFD at Garfield Community Service Center, 10 South Kedzie Avenue, and distributed to area elementary schools.
- Every staff member at the receiving schools will be recognized for their dedication with a personal invitation for a free pizza at any Home Run Inn location. An additional 1000 pizzas will be given to police and fire personnel on hand as well as 500 pizzas to area residents that day at the DFSS Dr. Martin Luther King Community Service Center.
- “Our children are our future, and I cherish the opportunity to start the school year off right by handing out one of Chicago’s signature dishes to thousands of our youth,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “Thank you to CPD, CFD, DFSS, CPS, and Home Run Inn for making this event possible and making our kids’ first day a little brighter.”
- “We are so excited to continue our partnership with Home Run Inn, Chicago Public Schools, CPD, and CFD to begin the new school year with such a big celebration,” said DFSS Commissioner Brandie Knazze. “DFSS supports children and families throughout the duration of their school-aged experience and beyond. We know that they need to be supported and nourished in many different ways, and this event contributes to that effort. We wish every student a wonderful and productive school year.”
- “We’re grateful to Home Run Inn and all our City partners for joining us as we welcome back our families, staff and importantly, our amazing scholars,” said CPS CEO Pedro Martinez. “Starting the year off strong depends on our schools as well as our parents and community members, as exemplified in this generous gift and partnership.”
- “Home Run Inn is thrilled to play a part in brightening the lives of students as they gear up for an exciting new school year,” said Gina (Perrino) Bolger, Senior Vice President and fourth-generation family member of Home Run Inn.
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