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Chef Gino Fazzari, owner of Calderone Club and San Giorgio Pizzeria Napoletana, has announced a campaign to support Milwaukee Police Detective Andrew Wilkiewicz, an officer shot in the line of duty while working in the Historic Third Ward.
All day Thursday, Jan. 27, Fazzari will donate 50% of all proceeds from dine-in or take-out sales at Calderone Club, 842 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. (formerly Old World Third Street) and San Giorgio Pizzeria Napoletana, 838 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. to the Milwaukee Fallen Heroes Fund. Individuals who cannot make it to the event also have the option to donate directly to the fund online.
Wilkiewicz, who was shot four times while confronting alleged carjackers who were in the process of stealing a delivery driver’s car. Three children were also inside the car. Wilkiewicz has been released from the hospital but remains on an indefinite professional leave during his recovery.
“Too often, people take for granted the men and women who are willing to put themselves in
harm’s way every day so the rest of us can eat, drink, work, and play safely in our city,” said
Fazzari in an announcement about the campaign.
“An incident like Detective Wilkiewicz’s shooting is a grim reminder of the risks our police officers face on our behalf every day. Unfortunately, we live in an era when people are often quick to criticize our police officers but slow to tell them ‘thank you.’ I want to provide one small opportunity for the community to send a message of thanks to our police and let them know we’ve got their backs.
“The only reason restaurants like Calderone Club and San Giorgio Pizzeria Napoletana can
remain in business,” he continued, “Is because heroes like Andrew Wilkiewicz provide a safe experience for Downtown visitors. We are incredibly thankful he survived but know he’s got a
long road with unexpected costs ahead of him as he recovers. The least we can do is take one day to give back and help cover some of those costs he will be facing in the wake of this incident.”
Both restaurants will be open Thursday, Jan. 27 for in-person and takeout dining from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
