Pizza with purpose
Boys & Girls Club honors Jimino at annual fundraiser
A couple hundred people filled the Franklin Terrace Ballroom on Thursday night to sample some of the area’s best pizza and help local youth at the Troy Boys and Girls Club’s 10th annual Pizzapalooza. Guests had an opportunity to sample the offerings of more than a dozen local pizzamakers, as well as several desserts, and to bid on a host of donated baskets, all to benefit the downtown club. This year’s Pizzapalooza also allowed the club an opportunity to thank retiring Rensselaer County Executive Kathleen Jimino for her support of both the club and local youth in general, with the club’s CEO, Patrick Doyle, and board president, Chris Chenes of the Tri-City ValleyCats, presenting Jimino with the group’s 2017 Champion of Youth award. A five-judge panel that included City Editor Mark Robarge of The Record hose DeFazio’s Pizzeria for offering the best traditional pizza, Brown’s Brewing Co. for most creative, Testo’s as the judge’s choice, Carol’s Place as the people’s choice and the club’s own Karen Arcate for best dessert pairing. The Troy Boys and Girls Club serves the young people of Troy’s community by provid- Jerry Ford, leader of the Team HERO program at the Troy Boys and Girls Club, watches club member Diamond Owens read a poem during the club’s 10th annual Pizzapalooza on Thursday night at the Franklin Terrace Ballroom.
ing safe places and positive programs that enhance their moral, intellectual, social, and physical development. The
Club seeks to help all youth live full and satisfying lives. Through frequent participation in programs that are designed to incorporate these key elements, young people become productive, caring, responsible citizens.
For more information on the club, call 518-274-3781 or visit www.tgbc.org.