As published in the Record Journal Monday July 26, 2010
By Jesse Buchanan
Record-Journal staff
jbuchanan@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2230
WALLINGFORD — Zandri’s Stillwood Inn will host the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s annual fundraiser on Sept. 5, as it has done since 1997. The event coincides with Jerry Lewis’ national telethon for the association.
The dinner, with entertainment, has raised $267,854 since its birth, according to Zandri’s owner Jim Zandri.
“One hundred percent of the proceeds go to the charity,” he said.
Buffet dinner costs $45 per person. Reservations are requested by calling (203) 269-6695. The night’s activities, which include a silent auction, magician and a disc jockey, will begin at 5:30 p.m. and run until midnight.
According to Danielle Zandri, the dinner usually attracts more than 200 guests and has raised about $34,000 in past years.
The idea was planted when Jim Zandri was asked for a donation by officials in the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s New Haven office.
“Rather than donating a check, he offered to let them use our facilities,” Danielle Zandri said.
Association fundraising coordinator Jennifer Ksiazek said the Zandri’s dinner is important to her office, which covers New Haven, Middlesex and New London counties.
“It’s one of our biggest events in our district,” she said.
Proceeds from the event fund flu shots, clinic visits, leg brace and wheelchair repairs and a summer camp in Hebron for children with muscular dystrophy. The cost to send one child to camp for a week is $800, and the camp is designed to accommodate those who have to use wheelchairs.
“Zandri’s dinner goes a long way,” Ksiazek said.
Tags: Fundraiser, MDA, Wallingford