Venice Ristorante sponsors charity event

Venice Ristorante will sponsor an event to benefit HEAL International June 22.

HEAL is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing health care to underprivileged families. The organization does work in east Africa, helping to enable communities to tap into their own resources rather than bringing doctors over there and having them try to cure people for four weeks at a time.

"They do have hospitals in Africa, but they don't have ready access to doctors," HEAL International Executive Director Damien Salamone said.

For 72 cents per child per month, the organization can get a doctor to see the kids for general checkups and screenings, and provide them with medical services.

At the Venice event, Salamone will host a brief presentation on HEAL International, and plans to have a phone conference with Arizona State University professor Bertram Jacobs, who is currently in east Africa.

"We just want to have an evening where everybody can come, and all the while contribute to a cause that's making a difference," Salamone said.

Venice will hold a four-course dinner, featuring different wines for each course. After the presentation, there will be a private Flamenco performance.

Venice co-owner Jim Kostopoulos said he was introduced to HEAL International through his girlfriend's daughter, who did some work with them while she attended ASU.

"Even before Venice, I did about a year and a half of nonprofit, so we were looking for ways to give back to the community when we opened the restaurant," Kostopuoulos said. "When we were only open a couple months and this opportunity presented itself."

Cost is $100 per person, and all of the profits will go toward HEAL International. Space is limited to 40 guests, however, there are two times for the fund-raiser: 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

For more information, call Megan Pendergest at (513) 227-4592 or visit www.healinternational.org.

Contact writer: (480) 898-7911 or ebehrendt@ahwatukee.com.