Food and friendship. That's the connection at the annual Pasta Fundraiser hosted by the Italian American Sports Club. The Italian American organization met its fundraising goal of $10,000 with more than 400 people attending the event Sunday. The money is used to help local charities, including Hope Hall School, said club secretary Joe Larizza.

Founded in 1994 by Sister Diana Dolce, Hope Hall helps children who have been determined to be difficult based on traditional school standards. "These are children who would have fallen between the cracks," Larizza said. Money from the fundraiser helps a special camp for some of the students there, Larizza said, and the Italian American Sports Club is providing its facilities, food and staff for Hope Hall to use without charge for its Taste of Italy fundraiser for the school this Saturday, April 28, he added.