Paisano’s restaurants and the Amphora Group announced that they will participate in the annual Police Unity Tour, this year marking its 14th anniversary promoting public awareness of law enforcement and officers who have died in the line of duty. A secondary reason for the teaming of the two restaurateurs is to raise funds that support the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., with a Museum scheduled for opening in 2011 across from the Memorial.
“For the second consecutive year, my restaurants will be proud supporters of this very worthy cause,” says Fouad Qreitem, Paisano’s CEO. “In 2009 we raised a bit more than $6,000 in donations. Our goal this year will be to raise $8,500, which will fully support five Fairfax County police officers who will ride from East Hanover, New Jersey (departing May 9) to Washington, D.C. (arriving May 12) with a candlelight vigil on May 13.”
“Each officer is required to raise at least $1,700 in order to participate in the Tour and if they don’t, the strong ‘brotherhood in blue’ mentality kicks-in and these brave men and women pull money out of their own pockets to make the ride,” says George Cholakis, owner of Amphora. “Fouad and I are trying to make sure that doesn’t have to happen. And beyond this $8,500 pledge we’re making, any additional monies raised will go in support of the Memorial and soon-to-be-opened Museum at Judiciary Square in D.C.”
“All day each day, from Monday, April 12, through Sunday, April 18, each Paisano’s outlet (Herndon, Fairfax City, Fair Lakes, Chantilly, Reston, and Bella Pizza in Centreville) will donate $2 for every pizza sold to the Police Unity Tour,” Qreitem says.
“The Amphora restaurant in Vienna and the Amphora Diner in Herndon will be contributing $2 from every order from our special Police Unity Tour price fix menu,” Cholakis says. “In addition, all location restaurants and our bakery locations in both Vienna and Herndon will contribute the proceeds of the sale of specially designed police unity tour logo cookies.”
