By Samantha SLAYBACK

The CV Town Council is gearing up for its eighth annual pancake breakfast to be held Saturday, Sept. 19. Similar to past years, the tasty event will take place from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Crescenta Valley High School quad.

This year the event will be co-chaired by CVTC members Kyle Studebaker and Harry Leon. Studebaker has co-chaired the past two years and, prior to that, volunteered to work the event the previous two to three years.

The breakfast relies on donations from local businesses. For example, all sausages provided at the breakfast will be donated by Gelsingers, a local business that has been supporting the event for years. The Lion’s Club also works closely with the council and provides the mobile kitchen to cook the breakfast. Finally, the CVTC purchases any items that aren’t donated by sponsors. These needed breakfast items include eggs, coffee and, of course, pancakes mix, among other snacks.

This year there will also be an Eye Exam Mobile on-site, providing eye exams for those who come to enjoy breakfast.

“The event is a great way to partner with local businesses and non-profit organizations to create a straight-forward fundraiser,” said Studebaker.

Tickets for the event are being sold by members of local groups and organizations for $5 each. This year, many student clubs from CVHS are selling tickets, including the debate team, Prom Plus Club and robotics. Due to the ongoing drought, the CVHS Pep Squad has decided to replace its annual car wash fundraiser and instead join the other CV groups in raising money through pancake breakfast ticket sales.

“For each ticket they sell, group members receive half of the money earned,” explained Studebaker. “Since each ticket is $5, this means they receive $2.50 per ticket sold.”

While the breakfast has always been a fundraiser for the CV Town Council, this arrangement also allows the opportunity for other local groups to raise money as well.

In past years the event has netted a total of approximately $4,000 with half the money going to local organizations for their ticket sales and the remaining half going to the council. Due to extra help this year from the CV Pep Squad as well as earlier ticket distribution and better overall organization, the council is hoping to do even better with sales this year.

Aside from ticket sales and donations, this event couldn’t happen without the help of many volunteers.

“We get a lot of volunteer help,” said Studebaker. “Robotics is interested in helping out this year and potentially bringing a robot to help serve!”

Studebaker also expressed how fortunate the council is to have such generous sponsors. This year the event has five sponsors, each have donated $100 to help get the event up and running.

“We are very fortunate,” Studebaker said.

Tickets are being sold at the event for those who did not pre-purchase a ticket but wake up on Sept. 19 with a craving for flapjacks and friendly neighborhood conversation.

Crescenta Valley High School is located at 2900 Community Ave. in La Crescenta.

  Samantha SLAYBACK