ANDERSONVILLE — When a beloved Andersonville bar asked its neighbors to help a local elementary school get much-needed resources, they got more help than expected.
Hopleaf, located at 5148 N. Clark St., held a "Friends of Peirce" day May 1 with a aim of raising $20,000 for Peirce Elementary School.
The bar ended up raising more than $30,000 — or $10,000 more than expected.
Michael Roper, co-owner of Hopleaf, said he and his wife and business partner, Louise Malnar, have held similar fundraisers for the school for the past 10 years.
"It was easier than doing a special event," Roper said. "We put out the word out that this was going to help out the school. We knew we would do better since the teachers and parents would show up."
Roper said what happened next was unexpected.
"The day turned to be much more busy than usual. It was packed all day," Roper said. "We donated the labor and the cost of goods. We support the after school programs at the school. We stay involved by keeping an eye on how the money is spent."
Ald. Harry Osterman (48th) congratulated Roper and Malnar in his weekly e-newsletter.
"Two community members who truly know how to make a difference are Michael Roper and Louise Molnar, owners of The Hopleaf in Andersonville," Osterman wrote. "Our community came out in droves, filling every table that day and night, and Hopleaf donated every penny they took in (other than sales tax) to Peirce: more than $30,000. A huge thank you to Michael and Louise for their overwhelming generosity and for serving as incredible community role models."
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