Eat spaghetti, support Hospice House at annual Dante's fundraiser

“We look forward to hosting this every year as a way to help out Hospice of Tuscarawas County,” stated Betty Drabik, of Dante’s Pizza and Pasta House in New Philadelphia. Drabik was explaining the preparation going into the restaurant’s sponsoring of the 12th annual spaghetti dinner to benefit the local hospice organization.

“We couldn’t do this without our vendors and their contributions,” she continued. “Barkett Fruit Company, Litty’s Cakes and Cookies, Pepsi, RDP Food Service, and Sysco all donate to make this happen. Sam Hitchcock donates the use of the sound system, Helbling Supply donates the carryout containers, and Bloom’s Printing, Signs to Go, Quickprint Center, and Burkey’s Signs provide the promotional materials. It is truly a community effort.”

Drabik explained that the menu for the event will include spaghetti with Dante’s marinara sauce, tossed salad with the restaurant’s own house dressing, dinner rolls with real butter, non-alcoholic beverages, and Litty’s cake for dessert.

“We will have local favorites for entertainment. Scott Miller, Ren (Paul Reynolds), and Jerome James will be on hand, and joining us again from Medina will be Bud Preston, an accomplished finger-style guitarist. We also will have a special guest appearance by legendary Cleveland Cavalier announcer and Hall of Fame inductee Joe Tait,” she said.

Another integral part of the success of the fundraiser are the efforts of other volunteers. “Our servers, including nine celebrity servers, and all of our dishwashers are volunteers as well, which allows more of the profits to go to hospice,” added Drabik. This year’s celebrity servers include New Philadelphia Mayor Mike Taylor, Jeff Mathias, Rick Bloom, Darren Troyer, Bob Scanlon, Terry Wallick, Jeremy Royer, Jan McInturf, and Rick Brinkman.

“Highlights of a silent auction during the benefit will include an autographed Mo Williams jersey, an autographed ball cap from Anthony Parker, an autographed game bat from the Indians’ Asdrubal Cabrera, and a Kerry Wood autographed baseball,” Drabik noted. “The most exciting thing up for auction is the chance to sit with Joe Tait during a home game broadcast. That will be a real crowd pleaser.

“For the last three years, First National Bank of Dennison has matched 25 percent of the tip money. Bill Treciak from Electronic Data Payment Systems in New Philadelphia has also agreed to match 25 percent of the day’s tip total this year. This is huge,” exclaimed Drabik. “Every dime we take in goes directly to hospice.”

Norm Mast is the executive director for hospice. “We have a fundraising committee that is always working on raising needed money. But the interesting thing about Dante’s, is that they do this on their own. It is unique in that, for 12 years, Betty has done this for us, raising over $120,000 for hospice,” stated Mast. “The support they get from the community in donating goods and services is incredible as well. Betty and Dan Drabik have helped us so much.

“Last year they specified that the money be donated to the Hospice House project, and they are planning to do so again,” said Mast. Community Hospice of Tuscarawas, Stark, and Carroll Counties is currently conducting a capital campaign to raise $5.9 million to establish a residential Hospice House in New Philadelphia.

The 12th annual hospice benefit spaghetti dinner will be held Sunday, June 27, at Dante’s from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dine-in or carry-out is available, with a $10 per person donation. Advance tickets are available at Dante’s Pizza and Pasta House, which can be reached at 330-339-7500. Information can also be found at http://www.myhospice.org.

Said Mast, “We hope folks will come out to Dante’s, enjoy some spaghetti, and help contribute to the future of Hospice House.”