SUMMERVILLE, SC (WCSC) – The 12th annual Summerville Italian Fest raised a record number of funds this year, all of which are going directly to the classrooms of Dorchester School District 2.

Summerville Italian Feast event and executive director Jay Lombardo said the goal has always been to try to increase what they are able to provide each year to support the school district.

“The first year we had about seven vendors and maybe a thousand people showed up. This year we had 108 vendors and we estimate there would be between 15,000 and 17,000 people on a day,” Lombardo said.

Lombardo said this year they were able to give back $40,000 to the Dorchester Two Educational Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to support the students and teachers of Dorchester School District 2.

He said the total includes revenue from the Italian Fiesta portion of the event as well as their Second Annual Meatball Race.

“We always hoped to increase from year to year. My goal, it would have been nice to write them a pretty good sized check. We’re not going to be able to write them a good-sized check, we’re going to write them a phenomenal check. We’re going to give them a check for $40,000 this year,” Lombardo said.

Lombardo said that was more than double what they were able to raise last year, which was $15,500.

The Meatball Run is something that was added last year. Lombardo said last year about 220 runners participated and this year they doubled that number to 440.

Dorchester Two Educational Foundation Executive Director Ralph Hayes said events like this are crucial for the school district to the success of its teachers and students due to lack of funding.

He said they take the money raised at the event and use it for teacher projects.

“Teachers will contact me and say this is something I want, whether it’s a STEM kit or a reading initiative or an art set, and these are things that are not not covered by traditional funding,” Hayes said. “Dorchester Two is the fifth least funded school district among more than eighty school districts in South Carolina and that makes partners like Summerville Italian Feast, who invest in our children, absolutely vital.”

Hayes will award Lombardo and his team a trophy at Monday’s school board meeting for their hard work and contribution of more than $100,000 to District Two over the past decade.

Hayes said people came from all over the state to participate in the event. He emphasized that growth would not be possible without the help of their students who provide entertainment and volunteering.

“We are thrilled to find that we are a staple in the local community, but we also provide a resource that allows people to come see all the wonderful things that Dorchester County has to offer.” From the food, to the artists, to our wonderful students, to the amazing volunteers like Jay and the Italian Feast team who help put this event on,” Hayes said.

Lombardo said next year’s Meatball Run will take place on October 11 and the Italian Fiesta will take place on October 12.

Hayes said the Dorchester Two Educational Foundation is hosting a free Moonlight Movie Night Dec. 14 at McKissick Stadium, featuring crafts, games and a holiday movie. You can find more information on their Facebook page.

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