The Wittenberg University Sigma Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) invites Clark County residents to the Springfield Community Thanksgiving Dinner, 4:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house, 20 West Ferncliff Place.

Community members can enjoy a full Thanksgiving meal for $5 per person, and children 12 and under eat for free. Tickets can be purchased outside the Central Dining Room (CDR) until the day of the event or at the door.

In an effort to build strong community ties and raise awareness for the Promise Neighborhood initiatives, programming will include the recognition of community leaders and performances by Lincoln Elementary students.

Event director Anthony Corsi, Wittenberg class of 2016 from Cleveland, Ohio, has high expectations for this year’s dinner, hoping to serve and celebrate Thanksgiving with more than 1,000 community members and to raise more than $10,000. Last year, the dinner served more than 800 people and raised $8,200 for the Promise Neighborhood.

“Like the Promise Neighborhood, the dinner functions as a resident-driven event that serves to build strong community ties by recognizing dedicated leaders who make a difference each and every day in the lives of children in our community,” Corsi said. “The dinner seeks to discover and cultivate these leaders by celebrating past efforts and to encourage future involvement in our community. This event has the chance to truly inspire and bring together all of Springfield to celebrate selflessness, hopefulness, a commitment to serving each other and our community - our home.”

All proceeds from the event will go toward the Springfield Promise Neighborhood’s efforts to alleviate poverty and improve education within the community. The Springfield Promise Neighborhood, a collaborative, neighborhood-based effort to ensure the academic and social success of Springfield and Clark County students, was inspired by New York-based social activist and educator Geoffrey Canada, who created the Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) in New York City.

To find out more about the Springfield Promise Neighborhood, visit www.springfieldpromise.com. Contributions to the Springfield Promise Neighborhood may be made at www.gofundme.com/fijithanksgiving.

If you have questions or need transportation, contact Anthony Corsi at (216) 287-5597 or corsiant1993@gmail.com.