LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — A local pizza parlor and a fitness center that caters to persons with disabilities are teaming up to throw and pizza party and fundraiser.
Dozens of children with disabilities are cooking pizzas at Brooklyn’s Best Pizza and Pasta on Friday. Fifty percent of the proceeds from pizza sales will go toward the Ability Center of Southern Nevada, a gym specifically designed for people with disabilities.
“Inclusion is a big part of this community and we want to make our members feel included in life and society,” said Chris Salas, founder of the Ability Center.
The Ability Center’s mission is to empower, enhance, and increase the natural ability of those with physical, mental, and developmental disabilities. Salas, also known as “Coach Chris” said he met Brooklyn’s Best Pizza & Pasta owner Joey Gonzalez at the gym, and they decided to throw the Pizza for a Purpose event for the kids to learn valuable skills.
“This is a great opportunity to help the community,” Gonzalez said. “As a father myself, I love kids and I want to help them.”
A report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently found that 21.3% of persons with a disability were employed in 2022, which is up from 19.1 percent from the previous year. The agency found that the more businesses give people with disabilities more opportunities and activities — such as making a pizza — the more the people gain the confidence and skills to become independent individuals.
“Bringing them into the pizza shop and participating in the process here and actually celebrating them is what we’re all about,” Salas said.
On Friday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., members of the Ability Center will cook pizzas, but Brooklyn’s Best will continue the fundraiser all day.
The restaurant is located at 241 W Charleston Blvd, Ste 101, Las Vegas, NV.
To learn more about The Ability Center of Southern Nevada, visit AbilityCenterNV.org.
