Iggy’s recognized for charitable community donations

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 7/22/14

“Everyone knows that Iggy’s serves great clam cakes and doughboys, but what they might not know is that Iggy’s has donated $100,000 collectively to different charitable organizations,” Mayor …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Iggy’s recognized for charitable community donations

Posted

“Everyone knows that Iggy’s serves great clam cakes and doughboys, but what they might not know is that Iggy’s has donated $100,000 collectively to different charitable organizations,” Mayor Scott Avedisian said Friday at Iggy’s in Oakland Beach.

For all the charitable work done by the corporation, Avedisian and Council Woman Donna Travis (D-Ward-6) presented David Gravino, the owner of Iggy’s, with a citation from the city.

Iggy’s has held drives for food banks where customers who brought in a jar of peanut butter received free doughboys. Iggy’s has also held toy drives for Toys for Tots around the holiday season.

Gravino has donated money to Camp Sunshine, which takes ill children who would normally miss out on the summer camp experience to a specialized camp to suit their medical needs. He also donates time, food and money to numerous bay “polar plunges.”

Many of the charities Iggy’s has donated to benefit children who are struggling with disease, poverty or other forms of adversity.

“It is so important to give back to people,” Gravino said. “We felt that kids with nothing, who are dealing with issues so many of us have never faced, we have to do this for them.”

Gravino said, “I started with nothing. We started as a 400-square-foot shack and now we have a 3,000-square-foot facility. We are even expanding next door with another 5,000 square feet. For all of our success, we felt like we have to give back to our community and our state.”

The new facility, next to Iggy’s, will serve 500 people. Gravino hopes to use this space not only for large events, but also fundraisers in the future. The new facility is to be named Iggy’s Creamery and Boardwalk.

Avedisian is excited for the new Iggy’s addition.

He said, “Summer is alive down here. Iggy’s is not only creating business and interest for this community, but they, time and time again, are supporting and giving back to their community.”

With the new boardwalk addition, Gravino wants the building to fit in with the beach atmosphere.

“We want that classic New England design,” Gravino said.

Avedisian commented that Iggy’s has become an icon and staple of Oakland Beach.

“There are few constants, but Iggy’s has lasted through everything. It has only grown to new heights.”

Travis agreed and said, “You just have to come down here. Every night the line is always out the door.”

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here