Starting February 11, you’ll have several great reasons to eat an entire pizza without feeling guilty.

On Monday, February 11, OTTO will launch an ongoing series of fundraiser nights to benefit regional charities and organizations. The series will run in both Maine and Massachusetts, with Maine fundraisers taking place at OTTO’s new 574 Congress Street expansion, and the Massachusetts fundraisers taking place at OTTO’s BU location at 888 Commonwealth Avenue.
The first fundraiser will support the BU student-led charity organization Project Mailbox, an initiative that collects funds at campus drop-off locations (actual retro mailboxes) to support charities voted on by students. Each month, the winning charity becomes Project Mailbox’s charity of the month, and all donations go towards that charity.
Project Mailbox describes itself as “a charity for other charities, raising awareness and money for different causes one coin at a time.”
The Project Mailbox fundraiser night will take place on Monday, February 11, starting at 5pm at 888 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston. A portion of the night’s receipts will be donated to Project Mailbox. The evening will also feature a 50/50 raffle, prizes on the hour, and a “Hungry Hour” from 5-6pm in which guests receive a free slice of cheese pizza with the purchase of a beer.
OTTO looks forward to partnering with area charities, schools, and non-profit organizations. The fundraiser series further extends OTTO’s philanthropic initiatives – the restaurant has been actively supporting charities and non-profits since opening its doors in 2009. In addition to raising funds, OTTO owners and staff hope the events will help raise awareness, encourage dialogue, and provide a venue for networking, brainstorming, and speaking with potential volunteers. OTTO also looks forward to working more closely with organizations and becoming better acquainted with those who dedicate their time to these causes.
The series is still in its infancy, and OTTO encourages charities, schools, and organizations to reach out to discuss opportunities. Those interested should send an email to contactus@ottoportland.com.
As of this writing the schedule is as follows (all dates are subject to change):
OTTO 888 Comm Ave, Boston (across from BU)
February 11 – Project Mailbox
March 4 — Family Equality Council
March 18 – The Lawrence School
March 25 – Grub Street Writers
TBD – BU Center for Gender, Sexuality & Activism
OTTO 574 Congress St. Portland (Arts District)
February 26 – Bruce Roberts Toy Fund
March 5 – Casco Bay High School Senior Class
March 12 — Casco Bay High School Model UN
March 19 – Salt Institute for Documentary Studies
April 2 — Portland Veterans’ Acupuncture Clinic
April 9 — American Liver Foundation’s Run For Research
April 16 – Portland Ballet
Please consider supporting these organizations by stopping by OTTO during their events. A percentage of each purchase will go directly to the organization. It’s a great opportunity to eat an entire pizza without the guilt!