NEW LOCAL: Restaurant plans benefit for Michael Porada


By David Burcham
New Castle News


Owners of a local restaurant plan to hold a benefit dinner for a former New Castle High School athlete Sunday.


Family, friends and supporters of Michael Porada are invited to C.J.’s Pizza, 630 E. Washington St., between noon and 8 p.m. for an all-you-can-eat spaghetti/pasta dinner. All proceeds will go to Porada, who is battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

After reading about the family’s struggles in a recent article in the New Castle News, Edward and Cheryl Sipe Littlefield decided to use their facility to help raise money to support the family.

Littlefield had originally planned to hold the event on a Tuesday — the day the restaurant is closed. But he decided that Sunday would be a better day, even though it meant giving up a big day of business at the establishment.

“This thing has really evolved,” Littlefield said. “We’ll do no regular business Sunday.”

Littlefield said part of the restaurant would be converted into a living area for Michael and his family.

The menu will consist of either spaghetti and meatballs or a non-meat pasta. It will include salad, rolls, dessert and beverages. The cost of $15 will include the all-you-can-eat dinner and a raffle ticket. Littlefield said there will be a raffle every 15 minutes.

Local businesses that have donated products and gift cards, include Santisi’s Wholesale, Universal Culinary Associates, Print Center, Giant Eagle, Famous Hair, Butz Florist, Staples, Nickel’s Bakery, Harding Tire, Beer For Less, Dairy Queen on Ellwood Road, King’s Jewelers, CVS, East Side Pharmacy, Sipe’s Auto and My Favorite Place.

Littlefield is expecting between 800 and 1,200 people to purchase a ticket and show their support for Porada. He said there will be at least three big screen televisions to watch the Steelers-Browns football game.

Michael Bernarding, executive director of the ALS Association for Western Pennsylvania, plans to be there. There will be literature available and videos will be shown on the screens before and after the game.

Porada makes no secret of his love for the Steelers, and plans to wear a black and gold jersey.

A local philanthropist, who asked to remain anonymous, donated money to purchase a special speech device that will permit Michael to speak and use the Internet.

“We are floored with the generosity people have shown us,” Melissa Porada said. “There’s definitely angels out there.”

She said the device will enable her husband to answer and send e-mail. It also will allow him to talk via the voice of the computer. The device has not yet arrived, but Michael hopes to have it before Sunday.

The couple’s savings account has been depleted.

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