This November, your Tuesday night meals can do more than fill your stomach! They can support the teachers who shape our students every day at Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools.

Every Tuesday in November through Giving Tuesday on December 1st, several local restaurants will donate a portion of their proceeds to “Tuesdays 4 Teachers” to benefit key teacher and staff salary endowments and initiatives.

The lineup includes national names and Sioux Falls favorites. The reasons they are joining in are strikingly similar.

Caring for those who care for others

For Bethany Buitenbos, marketing director at Chick-fil-A Empire Place, the connection is personal to the restaurant's values. "Teachers are some of the most impactful leaders and innovators in our community, shaping the next generation every single day," she said. "At Chick-fil-A Empire Place, we believe in caring for those who care for others, and supporting our local educators is just one small way we can show our appreciation for all they do."

Ben Miller of Pancheros in Sioux Falls said participating has become an easy decision. "Pancheros in Sioux Falls firmly believes in supporting the community that supports us," he said. "They provide educational opportunities for the youth in our community and are vital to the future of our community."

Gratitude for the difference teachers make

Christie Ernst of Big Sioux Diner and Grill called the event "a small way for us to show our appreciation for the incredible work teachers do every day." She added, "We're grateful for the difference they make in our schools and our community."

Pizza Ranch is also proud to support this effort. "Teachers make an incredible impact on our kids and our community every day," said Todd Pharis of the 41st Street Pizza Ranch, "and this is a great opportunity for us to show our appreciation and give back to those who give so much."

Barry Putzke of Pizza Cheeks said the partnership felt like a natural fit. "Local educators are the backbone of our community," he said, "and being able to support their hard work through Pizza Cheeks is a natural fit for us.”

Great Shots is also proud to invest in our educators. “We chose to support this campaign because local teachers deserve access to the resources and supplies they need to create meaningful learning experiences,” said Domanique Kokken, sales and marketing director at Great Shots. “We are proud to invest in our educators and the success of their students.”

Personal ties to Bishop O'Gorman

For some owners, the cause is close to home. Riccardo and Marybeth Tarabelsi, owners of Vinyahd Restaurant Group, which includes R Wine Bar & Kitchen, Maribella Ristorante, Brix Wine Bar, Trio Jazz Club and Vespa Catering, have seen the impact of O'Gorman teachers firsthand. "Our three boys and extended family all graduated from O'G, and they were all challenged to grow in different ways because of the caliber of teachers they had during formative years in their lives," they said. "We are grateful for their commitment to education, and this is our small way of giving back to teachers in our community."

Jenny Pals of Valentino's has a similar perspective after sending five children through the Catholic school system. "Teachers give so much of themselves, and I think they deserve to feel supported and valued," she said. "I wanted to get involved because I love the idea of giving back and helping make a difference for the people who make such a difference in our children's lives."'

Whether you're grabbing a quick lunch or planning a night out, your Tuesday meal helps support the educators who make a difference in our community every day.

How to participate

Here’s how you can support our teachers all of November through Giving Tuesday on December 1st!

• Online: Click here to donate now!

• Call: Give us a call at 605-575-3343 (M-F) to make a contribution.

• Mail: Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools Foundation
Tuesdays 4 Teachers, 3100 W 41st St, Sioux Falls, SD 57105

• Eat Out To Help Out! Skip the kitchen and eat out (or place an order to go) on each Tuesday in November and Giving Tuesday on December 1st at one of our partner restaurants listed below. Each participating restaurant will donate a portion of their sales back to Tuesdays 4 Teachers.

Visit https://www.ogknights.org/t4t for the full restaurant list and menus.