Community development organization Roosevelt Row and the Phoenix New Times’ food blog site Chow Bella co-hosted their second annual Pie Social event Saturday to raise money for a Phoenix high school’s arts program.
Attendees that came to the vacant lot near Roosevelt and 5th streets could opt to either purchase tickets for $10 or bring two pies of their own in exchange for five slices from a selection of 300 different pies baked by celebrity bakers as well as community members. Proceeds of the sales are being donated to the arts program at Bioscience High School.
Roosevelt Row director Cindy Dach said the nonprofit development group creates events like the Pie Social to strengthen the community of downtown Phoenix by bringing people together.
“Goods things happen, change happens when people know each other,” she said.
A pie-tasting contest was held at the start of the event, and patrons were given the chance to judge both the pies of the celebrity bakers as well as the pies baked by the community.
The local celebrity bakers included Justin Beckett of Beckett’s Table, Tammie Coe of Tammie Coe Cakes and Tracey Dempsey of Tracy Dempsey Originals.
Last year’s Pie Social event raised $500 for Kenilworth Elementary, Dach said.
Dach said she was inspired to bring the event to Phoenix after a friend of hers in New York hosted a Pie Social. She said many people were brought together through last year’s event.
“I am amazed at how many people told me they met this person at the Pie Social, or they recognize each other and became friends,” she said. “When people recognize each other, it just makes the community better.”
Students from the Bioscience High School volunteered at the event by setting up and handing out slices of pie.
Christian Frescas, a senior at the high school who plans to attend ASU to study psychology, said he likes to volunteer for the school any time there is an event.
“I’m always there,” he said.
Stephanie Grijalva, an art instructor from the Bioscience High School, said some of the students were part of the school’s community service program, which is broken into three focus areas: elementary education, local food and health, and urban vibrancy. The Pie Social event falls under the program’s urban vibrancy category.
“Urban vibrancy is interested in making deep and long lasting connections with the downtown community, especially the arts community,” Grijalva said. “A lot of the students here chose to volunteer because they’re interested in furthering those connections with the Downtown community.”
Grijalva also said the student’s get just as much out of the volunteering experience as the community does.
“They’re definitely amazing students … They want to make sure that their impact is felt long after they’re gone,” she said.
While there was no specific goal for the amount of money being raised, Grijalva said the money would definitely be used well.
“We’ll be thrilled with any amount that’s donated to the program,” she said.
Reach the reporter at kmmandev@asu.edu Click here to subscribe to the daily State Press newsletter.
