You can take a break from your holiday shopping Dec. 19 and give back to Eden Prairie at the same time.

That’s because Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom restaurant and the Eden Prairie Community Foundation are once again teaming up to raise money for the Foundation’s Youth Initiative – specifically the after-school scholarships that help families-in-need afford to enroll their children in things like enrichment classes, driver’s training, swimming lessons, sports, and theater.

Simply dine at Old Chicago anytime between 4 and 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 19, and 15 percent of sales will be donated to the Youth Initiative. A series of similar fundraisers at Old Chicago last summer raised more than $3,200 for the cause, meaning dozens of additional kids can receive activity scholarships.

At the same time, Old Chicago and Finnegans Brew Co. – one of our Prairie Brewfest partners – are also putting more produce on local food shelves through the sale of Finnegans beers like Irish Ale and Dead Irish Poet Extra Stout that evening.

So, c’mon in to Old Chicago for dinner on Wednesday, and bring the family. It’s another way to “give back” this holiday season, and you’ll be helping level the playing field for all of Eden Prairie’s kids.