Scott Blasey Concert, Tips for Tots Part of 'Care for Kids' Campaign

Sure, the baskets that Eat’n Park stores raffle off for the company’s annual Care for Kids campaign raises thousands of dollars—and then there’s the Tips for Tots event, one where servers donate 100 percent of their tips to the cause.

That cause—children’s hospitals across the region—caused one local woman working at the Eat’n Park in McMurray to step up her fundraising game.

Angela Weaver, of Canonsburg, said she is spearheading efforts at the location to help it land in the top 10 fundraisers in the corporation this year.

That’s why she not only is participating in the Tips for Tots event (scheduled at the McMurray location from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow—Wednesday), but she will also spend time in jail for it.

Yes, Weaver said, the Peters Township Police Department will “jail” her in an attempt to raise even more money—asking friends or patrons to raise her “bail” or pay to keep her “behind bars.”

Did we mention that Santa and Mrs. Claus will also make appearances at the restaurant Wednesday? And so will Smiley, the restaurant’s mascot.

But that’s not all Weaver has planned.

She has also helped spearhead a benefit concert at the South Fayette Fire Hall from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 12—and Weaver said everyone is welcome.

Who is performing?

Scott Blasey from The Clarks (a frequent patron of the McMurray Eat’n Park, Weaver said).

Tickets are $10 (with no admission charged for children 5 and younger) and will get you more than just a performance.

There will be homemade food for sale (Weaver said her mother is making lasagna), soda, a huge bake sale, and an expansive Chinese auction—with more than 85 items already donated.

Weaver said the auction has something for everyone—with prizes ranging from tanning salons, tattoo shops, photography studios and more. Did we mention there is also a baseball cap signed by several members of the Pittsburgh Steelers?

And Weaver said not to worry: There will be plenty of activities for the kiddies, too.

Interested?

The doors will open at 6 p.m. and the opening act, Rachel Philipp, will take the stage at 7 p.m.

Philipp will play for about 30 minutes, then there will be a quick break before Blasey takes the stage.

Weaver said he will perform for about an hour, after which the drawing for the Chinese auction winners will begin.

Tickets can be bought by stopping into the McMurray Eat’n Park (right on state Route 19, by Arbys), by calling Weaver at 724-579-0524, or at the door that night.

Weaver said the McMurray location raised almost $10,000 for the campaign last year—and that she would like to eclipse that number this year.

And she said she was humbled by the community response to the benefit show and Chinese auction, and gave a hearty “thank you” to everyone who has helped so far.

Can’t make the events but curious how else you can help?

Through Dec. 16, guests can purchase a $2 raffle ticket at any Eat’n Park restaurant, including the one in McMurray, for the chance to win a new 2013 Ford Escape. The goal is to top last year’s record-breaking raffle ticket sales, which totaled more than $140,000 in donations.

New 2013 Ford Escape SE 4WD vehicles, provided by the Neighborhood Ford Store, are parked at Eat’n Park restaurants to help promote the campaign and remind guests to purchase their raffle tickets. A patient at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh will draw one lucky raffle ticket on Dec. 17.

The Neighborhood Ford Store is composed of 81 Ford dealers in southwest
Pennsylvania, southeast Ohio, and the panhandles of Maryland and West Virginia.

Now in its 34th year, Eat’n Park’s Caring for Kids Campaign has raised more than $8 million for children’s hospitals. Funds raised from the campaign stay in the communities where it is donated, making it truly a local, community-driven fundraiser.