The proceeds from a charity night by soon-to-open Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant will enable Muncie's Animal Rescue Fund (ARF) to continue its work despite financial difficulties.
Recovery from extensive damage during the ice storm in January was expensive and used much of ARF's savings. Assistant Director Nikki Stephenson said it owes about $6,000 to local veterinarians, besides other expenses.
To prepare for its opening night on Wednesday, Cheeseburger in Paradise, 1705 W. McGalliard Road, is sponsoring a charity night on Saturday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Besides food and live music, there will also be an auction with items donated by local businesses, as well as items signed by singer Jimmy Buffett, known for his songs "Margaritaville" and "Cheeseburger in Paradise."
Tickets to the event are $35. Stephenson said they sold out on Thursday when they topped 200 tickets.
"We tallied up how many we had sold since Tuesday and had to turn a lot of people away," Stephenson said. "I feel really bad, but when you are working with a restaurant you have to follow special codes."
Clint Pitts, managing partner of Cheeseburger in Paradise, said besides 10 Big Kahuna tables that seat five people, there was space for about 220 other customers. Pitts said Cheeseburger in Paradise holds a charity night when it opens every new store. He personally has assisted in two other openings.
Several of the Cheeseburger in Paradise employees are Ball State University students, Pitts said, including senior Jessica Riedel. She said she did not know about the charity night until she began the job.
"I know ARF has really been hurting for funding," Riedel said. "I thought it was such a wonderful thing. They really needed the money, and one of the ladies even cried when they heard we would be doing the night for them."
Pitts said normally the company sends out a questionnaire to local charities and organizations, but ARF actually contacted it.
"We were so impressed by the effort and what they do," Pitts said. "We talked to people in Muncie and they were well respected, and (we were impressed by) the story of how they came from collecting cans to run the shelter to what they have done today."
Stephenson said the opportunity came to ARF through Muncie resident Debbie McCoy, who was familiar with the charity night Cheeseburger in Paradise held when it opened in Fishers. McCoy asked if she could call the restaurant, and Stephenson said ARF agreed.
The charity night will take the place of the Bow-Wow Boogie fundraiser ARF has held in the past, Stephenson said. ARF was unable to rent the facilities and prepare for the charity event.
"You have to have money to do that, but this year the ice storm wiped out everything we had saved," Stephenson said. "We were panicked, did not know what we were going to do. It's truly been a lifesaver. Without this, we don't know what we would be doing."
All of the proceeds from the night will go to ARF, with Cheeseburger in Paradise paying for the food and workers.
"That's the way we do all our charity events," Pitts said. "It's not about making money for us; it's about helping out a charity which has struggled over so many years."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
