Nationally, more than 1.6 million children or 1 in 45 are homeless in America, according to a report by The National Center on Family Homelessness. That is a 38% increase since the start of the U.S. recession in 2007.

Founder Sharon Johnston started ten years ago with a jean drive at the Irving Women’s Network holiday luncheon.  Today, The Main Place  boasts over 6,000 square feet, often overflowing with pre-owned clothes.

Learn more about their mission at http://themainplaceirving.org/index.htm

Once the leftovers have gotten old, treat yourself to a night off and enjoy i Fratelli!  On Monday, November 26 your purchase will benefit Genesis Women’s Shelter.

http://www.genesisshelter.org/

Genesis provides shelter, safety, counseling, and expert services to battered women and their children.  Mention Genesis when you dine at i Fratelli Ristorante & Wine Bar or order from any i Fratelli Pizza location on November 26.  They will receive 15% of that purchase to carry on their mission of caring for north Texas families.

In the spirit of the season, 15% of your purchase on Monday, November 19 will benefit North Texas Food Bank.  Call for delivery, visit any of our nine pizza locations to pick up an order, or dine at i Fratelli Ristorante & Wine Bar.  Be sure to mention North Texas Food Bank when you place your order.

In 1982, the North Texas Food Bank was created to address the severe hunger problem in our community. At that time, 333,000 meals were provided in one year to individuals who were food insecure, meaning they were unsure where their next nutritious meal was coming from. As NTFB turns 30, the number of nutritious meals provided in fiscal year 2012 was 47 million.

Since 1982, we’ve seen many victories in the fight against hunger thanks to the support of volunteers, donors, companies, organizations, families, students, parents and individuals, all standing behind one mission: To passionately pursue a hunger free community.

http://web.ntfb.org/page.aspx?pid=253

What’s better than pizza on a Monday when you’re gonna be cooking up a storm the rest of the WEEK?!

Your pizza purchase on November 12 will benefit CityWalk Playground.  The playground is the brainchild of the Emerging Leaders class of the Dallas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.  Choose any of our ten locations but be sure to mention you want 15% to go back to CityWalk.

http://citywalkplayground.com/

CityWalk@Akard is a mixed-use building at 511 North Akard in downtown Dallas that includes 200 affordable housing units, and 100 of those units are dedicated as housing for the formerly homeless.  CitySquare was the organization that formed CityWalk@Akard’s nonprofit developer, the CDCDC (Central Dallas Community Development Corporation).  CitySquare provides resources onsite to the residents of the building to help give them a second chance to reintegrate back into society.

There are now 38 children living in the building with no public playground nearby.  The 2012 AIA Emerging Leaders class is comprised of young Architects from firms around Dallas who have come together to creatively design a play area within the building’s vacant loading dock area.  They will fundraise and start construction of the new play area beginning in the Fall of 2012.  They envision the play area to be a unique space which will give CityWalk@Akard the chance to expand their support programs for the children residing in the building.

The Irving High School Band Alumni Association will be the beneficiaries of your pizza purchase on November 5!  Order from any i Fratelli Pizza location or dine at i Fratelli Ristorante & Wine Bar.  Mention IHS Band and they’ll receive 15% of your purchase to maintain the history of the IHS Band and support the current music program at the high school.

http://www.ihsbaa.org/

The IHSBAA’s goals include:

• Raising funds for scholarships and other means of assisting students who are financially in need, musically talented, and demonstrate dignity, honor and pride in their academic and community endeavors.
• Recruiting recent Tiger Band graduates, along with former students from all generations, to continually infuse the organization with new members and subsequently new ideas.
• Developing and maintaining an accurate, historic, annual record of the Irving High School Tiger Band, from its formation in 1938 through the current year, as an ongoing, perpetual legacy for future classes and generations.

October is Greyhound Awareness Month.  In support of this cause GALT is our sponsored organization on October 29.

Place an order at any i Fratelli location, or dine at i Fratelli Ristorante & Wine Bar, on October 29 and mention GALT (Greyhound Adoption League of Texas).  When you do, they’ll receive 15% of your purchase price back to nurse and shelter retired Greyhounds.

Greyhound Adoption League of Texas, Inc. (GALT) is an all-volunteer 501(c)3 non-profit corporation operating in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, throughout Texas and the United States since May, 2001. As of June, 2012, GALT has assisted more than 2100 greyhounds in finding their forever homes.

GALT depends solely on donations for its operating budget of more than $250,000 per year for needs of the greyhounds in its possession. Learn more about helping GALT here.

http://greyhoundadoptiontx.org/

If you missed out two weeks ago, here’s another chance to show love and care for the homeless pets in the care of no-kill shelter DFW Humane Society in Irving.  Mention the shelter when you place your order on October 22 at any of our ten locations (nine pizza delivery and one restaurant in Irving/Las Colinas) and the shelter will receive 15% back.

It’s a cause near and dear to our hearts, and Sarah and the folks at the shelter are devoted and caring individuals who we admire very much!

http://www.dfwhumane.com/index.shtml

i Fratelli is proud to welcome back our friends at Dallas Center for Architecture for Pizza DoughNation on October 15.  Make your pizza purchase at any of our ten locations and mention DCFA–they’ll receive 15% of your purchase back to support programs to educate the public and celebrate the art of architecture here in Dallas.

Founded by AIA (American Institute of Architects) Dallas in 2008, the Dallas Center for Architecture is one of the nation’s first centers devoted to bringing the public more actively into the conversation about the importance of architecture and design to transform the way we live.  We examine a variety of topics–from sustainability and design excellence to preservation and urban planning. 

DCFA presents a variety of public programs, including walking tours, film screenings, exhibitions, panel discussions and family programs.  We also have a scholarship/traveling fellowship program that awards thousands of dollars to the next generation of architects and design professionals.

http://www.dallascfa.com/

Pizza DoughNation organization of the week is Dog & Kitty City!  Dog & Kitty City is a no-kill animal shelter affiliated with the Humane Society of Dallas County.  Their mission is to find loving forever homes for these animals.  Donations are used for food and medical care for the pets temporarily housed in the shelter.

Remember to mention “Dog & Kitty City” when placing your order at any i Fratelli Pizza location, or when dining at i Fratelli Ristorante & Wine Bar on October 8.