Rotary Pizza Challenge returns

When it comes to a fundraiser involving pizza, organizers of the Rotary Club of Sandusky's Pizza Challenge know their vendors and attendees are loyal."It's a collection of local pizza stores that have donated their pizzas for the night so we can raise money for Rotary Clothes Kids," said Past president Sandusky Rotary Club President and current member Maris Brenner. "The pizza places bring their pizzas over. We sell tickets and everyone gets to come and taste the pizza from these different pizza places. They can even vote for the ones they like the best."The Rotary Pizza Challenge, which takes place March 22 at Sandusky High School cafeteria and gym, finds the different pizza makers vying for four different awards. This includes categories for best delivery and restaurant, as well as best pepperoni and best any topping pizza."It's quite a competition among Chet & Matt's, Cameo Pizzas," Brenner said. "They were the two recent winners. Kalahari won it one time as well."The list of pizza vendors includes Bacni's Pizza House and Ice Cream, Bruno's Pizzeria – Huron, Cameo Pizza, Chet and Matt's, Dominos, J & J Pizzeria (Star Lanes), Kalahari Pizza Pub at Cafe Mirage, Mona Pizza, Papa John's Pizza, Pizza Brothers, Pizza House West, Pizza Hut, The Pie Factory and Vine & Olive.The Pizza Challenge acts as a main fundraiser for the Sandusky Rotary for its popular Rotary Clothes Kids program, which speaks to the heart of the charity's mission of service above self."It's a really special charity," Brenner said. "The Rotary literally shops for 200 grade school Sandusky kids every year in November and December. It's one Rotarian to one child. We help them pick out clothes. The neatest thing about it, the kids we shop for are generally kids who are used to hand me downs."Normally, they haven't gone shopping for their own clothes in a long time. Whatever they pick out – gloves, underwear, pajamas, pants, shirts – they get to pick the flavor of the day. So if they're a fan of Spider-Man, they'll get stuff that has Spider-Man on it. Or if it's a girl who likes pink, she'll put a lot of pink things in the basket."As for the fundraiser, Brenner said usually more than 1,200 pizzas are served to a couple of thousand hungry folks. Invariably, the Rotary Pizza Challenge continues to be a popular event. After all, who doesn't like pizza?"For us, it's been a tradition that's worked so well," Brenner said. "And the pizza places love it. Most of all, they don't bring one pizza, they bring their whole menu for all of these pizza lovers. Where else are people going to be able to try all of this pizza? It's just amazing."Brenner added, "Pizza is popular because it's just so easy to eat. You can put almost anything imaginable on it and besides, when you take it home, it heats up easy."WHAT: Rotary Pizza ChallengeWHEN: 4-7 p.m. March 22WHERE: Sandusky High School Cafeteria and GymTICKETS: $12 per adult (unlimited pizza tastes and a soft drink) and $6 for seniors (65 and older) and kids (12 years and under)INFO: sanduskyrotary.orgRegister photo/ANGELA WILHELM A large crowd showed up for the annual Rotary Pizza Challenge at the Erie County Fairgrounds Tuesday. Since it's formation 97 years ago, the Sandusky Rotary Club has been serving the community and addressing pressing social issues such as poverty, hunger, violence, illiteracy, and children in need. The pizza challenge is one of their biggest events.Register photo/ANGELA WILHELM Chet Leser, owner of Chet and Matt's, serves a slice of pizza to Evan Perry, 8, during Tuesday's annual Rotary Pizza Challenge. The goal of the event is to raise money for the Rotary's Clothing Kids Shopping Experience, which takes place in November and December.Register photo/ANGELA WILHELM Corey Stearns serves up a slice of Chet and Matt's pizza to Jordan Poole, 5, at the Rotary Pizza Challenge in Sandusky Tuesday.Register photo/ANGELA WILHELM Pizza by Chet and Matt's is ready to be served during the Rotary Pizza Challenge Tuesday.