LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Local businesses support LPIE over the holidays


Rachel Blatt, Lisa Spiegler, Teli Thayer, Amy Parlett, Tressa Rust and Myrna Kimmelman enjoy a night out as part of LPIE's Giving Tuesday. Photo provided

For the second year, Lafayette restaurants and retailers came out to support Lafayette Partners in Education this holiday season. Kicking off with Giving Tuesday on Nov. 28, five local restaurants - Barranco, Rustic Tavern, The Cooperage, Bonehead's Texas BBQ, Patxi's Pizza, and California Pizza Kitchen in Walnut Creek

- offered a percent of sales that day to LPIE. Diners were treated to holiday music provided by Acalanes High School and Stanley Middle School performers. "The night was a huge success," said Merilee McCormick, owner of The Cooperage. "Guests were thrilled to dine and know they are supporting such a great organization, their community and children. The Cooperage was pleased to be included in such a great event."

Continuing the holiday cheer, LPIE followed up with two shopping days on Dec. 7 and 14 in which retailers and Pizza Antica also offered a portion of sales to support LPIE. Clocks etc., J McLaughlin, Alicia Klein Showroom, A Runner's Mind, Specialtees, Learning Express and Lamorinda Music all participated. HoneyBear Trees, FormaGym and Sports Basement also offered percent of sales towards LPIE during the holiday season.

Working directly with the Lafayette and Acalanes Union High School Districts, LPIE is a community-based foundation that helps maintain the hallmarks of an education rich in science, math, music, art, technology, foreign language, humanities and electives and supporting programs and efforts that might otherwise go unfunded.

"Unfortunately, state fund and parcel taxes don't provide enough funding to meet the need of our schools," says LPIE President Amy Parlett, "Thanks to our community partners this holiday season, we were able to raise additional funds to help meet our goal of our 2017-18 goal of $3.2 million."