On Saturday, Wilton-Lyndeborough Superintendent Peter Weaver will join several district students behind the counter at the Wilton House of Pizza, dishing out pizza, in a fundraising effort to fund a scholarship for a graduating senior.
Wilton House of Pizza owner DJ Garcia, who is also the elected treasurer in Wilton, recently invited Weaver onto his podcast, “After the Checks Are Signed,” a twice-monthly discussion of town issues and events he hosts with his Deputy Treasurer Deb Mortvedt. Weaver, a former district principal who was selected as the district’s superintendent this year, came on to introduce himself to the community and discuss his vision for the district.
As they were chatting, Garcia said, Weaver mentioned that he had spent his adolescence working in a pizza shop.
It was then that the idea sprung up – put Weaver to work for an afternoon, and let students reap the benefits.
This Saturday will be the first of several “scholarship days” Garcia plans to host throughout the year. A special menu – including two of Weaver’s favorites, a chicken bacon pizza and a chicken kebab sub – will be offered, and customers who order off the menu will be asked if they would like to make a $2.50 donation to the scholarship fund. Every dollar donated will be matched by Wilton House of Pizza.
The goal is to be able to offer a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative senior in the fall. Garcia said he’s committed to that.
“Even if we only raise $100, the restaurant will put up the rest of the money. But I think we can exceed that,” he said.
The Wilton House of Pizza and Garcia have a history of supporting the community, including sponsoring youth sports and participating in Fire and Police Department community fundraisers. The restaurant also has done other fundraising days for causes such as breast cancer research, donating a portion of the day’s sales.
Garcia said as a member of the community, it’s important to lift up the people in it if the town is going to thrive.
“I’m a Wilton guy,” Garcia said. “Over the years, we’ve had dozens of students from WLC work for us, and I’ve tried to do my part to equip those students with a work ethic and skills they can bring anywhere. We have everything we need to be successful here, we just need each other. I want to continue to do that, and in this one way, I can be a positive part of the community and uplifting everyone in it.”
In addition to the scholarship fundraiser, the Florence Rideout Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization will also be hosting their annual mums flower sale in the Wilton House of Pizza parking lot on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon to benefit the PTO.
Donations for the scholarship will be accepted throughout the day Saturday at the Wilton House of Pizza, located on 28 Forest Road in Wilton. Weaver will be behind the counter and interacting with customers from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.