Tempe Mayor Neil Giuliano declared the week of Nov. 17 to be "Aloha Week," benefiting the Tempe Family YMCA and reinvigorating local businesses.
Several businesses throughout the city will be hosting Hawaiian-themed events, and events range from a preview of the Fantasy of Lights Ice Skating Rink at Tempe Beach Park, to a luau at Tempe Town Lake.
Allison Aguilar, a spokeswoman for the Tempe Family YMCA, said Aloha Week was organized by the YMCA to raise money for their Strong Kids campaign. The campaign helps fund scholarships for underprivileged children and teens.
Aguilar said that the scholarships are given for such things as summer camps, swimming lessons and YMCA memberships.
The YMCA's goal this year is to raise $200,000, and the Aguilar said the organization hopes a large part of that will be raised during Aloha Week.
The money is raised through the sale of raffle tickets, which are being sold at participating businesses in Tempe. Aguilar said that raffle prizes range from gift certificates redeemable at local businesses to a trip for two to Hawaii.
Aguilar also said that organizers at the YMCA hope that this will become their "yearly signature event," because it not only benefits their organization, but it has the potential to stimulate local businesses.
"It gets people to go out so that the companies benefit," Aguilar said. "It just creates a fun atmosphere."
Stanley Nicpon, a manager at Pizzeria Uno on Mill Avenue, said that the restaurant will be helping out the campaign by selling raffle tickets. The restaurant is hoping to draw in more customers by designing new menu items to tie in with the event, such as pineapple thin-crust pizza, to draw in additional customers.
He said that the company decided to participate in the event not only to help out the YMCA, but also because the event coincides with the real Aloha Week in Hawaii, which is designed to celebrate diversity.
"It's a very positive thing, and we're just having fun with it," Nicpon said.
If you go:
Aloha Week runs through Nov. 23.
For a complete list of participating businesses and events, visit http://www.alohaweek.net/.
Julie Messner is a reporter for the Web Devil. Reach her at julie.messner@asu.edu.
