Good vibes and tunes at the Pizza Oven Charities Benefit Dance for the Canton Ex-Newsboys

Benjamin Duer, The Repository
·1 min read

CANTON – It was night of good vibes and music.

The Pizza Oven Charities Benefit Dance for the Canton Ex-Newsboys returned Friday night after the pandemic canceled last year's event. And it was nothing short of a good time.

More than 1,000 people attended the benefit at the Canton Memorial Civic Center. Jimmy & the Soul Blazers and La Flavour performed live on stage.

Preview: Annual dance benefits Canton Ex-Newsboys and remembers Joe DiPietro

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They ate, drank and danced.

The Pizza Oven Charities Benefit Dance for the Canton Ex-Newsboys with La Flavour and Jimmy & the Soul Blazers attracted many in attendance to the dance floor and stage. The event was held Friday at the Canton Memorial Civic Center.
The Pizza Oven Charities Benefit Dance for the Canton Ex-Newsboys with La Flavour and Jimmy & the Soul Blazers attracted many in attendance to the dance floor and stage. The event was held Friday at the Canton Memorial Civic Center.

All proceeds benefited the Canton Ex-Newsboys Association which provides needy children in Stark County with coats, shoes and other clothing items — and has since 1960.

The Pizza Oven Charities Benefit Dance for the Canton Ex-Newsboys drew more than 1,000 people Friday to the Canton Memorial Civic Center.
The Pizza Oven Charities Benefit Dance for the Canton Ex-Newsboys drew more than 1,000 people Friday to the Canton Memorial Civic Center.

The charity has helped more than 55,800 children.

"We make sure a child is not embarrassed to go to school," said Bill Smuckler, Ex-Newsboys president and a Canton City councilman.

In 2020, the benefit dance made $30,000 for the charity.

For six decades, the Canton Ex-Newsboys has provided more than $4.2 million in coats, shoes and other clothing to needy Stark County children.
For six decades, the Canton Ex-Newsboys has provided more than $4.2 million in coats, shoes and other clothing to needy Stark County children.

Individual tickets for this year's event were $35 in advance and $40 the night of the event.

Pizza Oven supports Ex-Newsboys

Joseph "Papa Bear" DiPietro, the late founder of Pizza Oven restaurants and the Pizza Oven Charities, supported the Ex-Newsboys almost since its inception.

Jimmy & the Soul Blazers performs Friday at the Pizza Oven Charities Benefit Dance for the Canton Ex-Newsboys in the Canton Memorial Civic Center.
Jimmy & the Soul Blazers performs Friday at the Pizza Oven Charities Benefit Dance for the Canton Ex-Newsboys in the Canton Memorial Civic Center.

His sons Stephen and David DiPietro and their sister Stephanie DiPietro Condric have continued that support. They have raised nearly $700,000 for the Ex-Newsboys over the six decades.

"We've got stores all around Stark County. They provide clothes for kids in every school district," Stephen DiPietro said. "They are a great community organization."

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Pizza Oven Charities, Canton Ex-Newsboys host benefit dance in Canton