Buy a Burrito at Moe’s, Donate a Buck to Cranberry Kids Castle

Diners at the Moe’s Southwest Grill along Route 228 will be able to donate to the new Cranberry Kids Castle playground just by being hungry.

Throughout February, Mike Geiger and John Iaquinta, owners of the Moe’s location in Cranberry, will donate a dollar of every burrito sold at the restaurant to help fund the new playground being planned for Cranberry’s Community Park.

The Kids Castle, which is the nonprofit Cranberry Township Community Chest’s 2013 Project of the Year, is scheduled to replace the park’s wooden Playtime Palace.

“I think this hits home a lot more for John and I because we have four kids between us,” Geiger said of raising money for the new playground.

They’ll also be users of the park.

Geiger lives in Mars while Iaquinta lives in Cranberry.

“My wife and I regularly take our kids to play at all of the Cranberry Township parks,” Iaquinta said. “We love the community and look forward to our children experiencing the opportunity to grow up in such a great place. We knew we needed to help the project and figured donating a portion of our highest selling, signature item’s proceeds for a full month could make the largest impact.”

Geiger, who owns six Moe’s franchises with Iaquinta around the Pittsburgh region, said his restaurants typically participate in charities or fundraisers in communities where they have locations.

When it came to the Kids Castle, Geiger said he and Iaquinta particularly liked the project because most of the customers who eat the Cranberry restaurant probably will use the playground.

“It has always been a goal of ours to contribute to the communities we serve,” he said. “We recognize that our success is only due to the support we get from our guests and we are extremely appreciative of the ongoing positive relationship we hold with the residents of Cranberry Township.”

The goal is to raise $5,000, Geiger said. The owners also plan to coordinate a volunteer day with their employees over the summer to labor on the playground’s construction. They’ll also donate lunch to those working that day, he said.

Funds are still being raised for the completion of the Kids Castle

CTCC, which partners with local nonprofits to raise funds for projects that benefit the community, has pledged $50,000 in funding for the playground. The nonprofit Cranberry CUP also has agreed to donate $35,000 per year for the next five years, for a total of $175,000, to the project.

In addition, Cranberry supervisors approved $82,500 in funding to be used towards the playground’s design. A total of $250,000 in additional funding is needed to complete the project.

Playtime Palace is scheduled to be torn down in April. The new playground is expected to be constructed and ready for dedication by Sept. 29.

To learn more about Cranberry Kids Castle, click here.

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