York Town News
Local business shows its support for YORKWISE
By Melissa Wood
Eileen Brault, seen here, uses her Charlie Brown Wildcat Card to buy three pizzas from Paul Karoutas, part-owner of York House of Pizza, for the York High School boys' basketball team, which her husband, Rick Brault, coaches. She said York House of Pizza has always been very supportive of athletics in town.
Photo by Melissa Wood
YORK - You may know that you can buy Charlie Brown Wildcat Cards at York House of Pizza.
You may know that with a card you can get $1 off a large pizza at the York Street shop.
But you may not know just how supportive York House of Pizza has been over the years to the town's youth.
"As long as we've been doing it, York House of Pizza has been absolutely supporting us," said Ruth Littlefield, guidance counselor at York High School, of the Wildcat Cards program.
She added that they've been helpful with any community initiative, whenever asked, with no publicity.
"They just do it," said Littlefield.
The Wildcat Cards help support the efforts of YORKWISE (York Organization Receiving Knowledge, Wisdom, Information on Substance Education), which provides chemical-free activities for York High School students with Project Graduation as is its biggest event. Students are treated to a whole night out on the town, including a lobster bake at Foster's, go-carts at Hilltop Fun Center in Dover, N.H., and a cruise around the Isles of Shoals. Littlefield said almost every senior goes, and the group is chaperoned by 20 or 30 faculty members. The cost is around $12,000 to $13,000 per year.
YORKWISE, which is celebrating its 25th year in 2007, also supports parties after York High School theatre events and sponsors one police officer for every school dance.
"YORKWISE would not be the group that it is if we did not have that kind of community support," she said. "That's how we raise every single penny to do the initiatives we do."
Paul Karoutas has owned York House of Pizza with Peter Georgakilas for 27 years.
When asked why the business has been so supportive of the program, he said, "For the kids."
Kids are some of his biggest customers, he said.
"The town's been nice to me for all these years," said Karoutas. "I appreciate the support."
The cards are $5 each and York House of Pizza usually sells 80 to 100 each year. So far this year about 45 have been sold. At the end of the year, there are usually about 10 left over, but Karoutas will buy them up so none are returned.
"A lot of people buy the cards to support the kids, others to use them," said Karoutas.
Filled with discounts for area businesses, the $5 cards are a good deal and are purchased by locals and summer visitors alike.
"Buy five large pizzas and it's free," said Karoutas.
She said YORKWISE depends on support from local businesses.
"That's what makes it so cool," said Littlefield. "It's not like York House of Pizza gets anything from this."
Along with York House of Pizza, Charlie Brown Wildcat Cards can be used for discounts at Anthony's, AutoSpa, Bagel Basket, Berger's Bike Shop, Chase Forms, Dunkin' Donuts, Eldredge Hardware, KFC, LaStalla/Sawtooth Tavern, Lobster Cove, Norma's, Rick's, Ruby's, The Stolen Menu Café, Stop 'n Go Video, Subway, Side Trax DJ, Village Scoop, Wildcat Pizza, York Hospital and Yummies.
