Raising funds to polish the jewel city

They came, they ate and they raised thousands on Thursday during seventh annual Summer Night on the Plaza.

The event featured food from restaurants across Glendale and is the sole fundraiser for the Committee for a Clean & Beautiful Glendale, which helps clean up graffiti and litter and organizes youth programming and recycling outreach.

“This is the way we take our projects and pay for them,” said Joyce Ayvazi, a past president. “We have a nice crowd come out … and it’s a little bit of a taste of Glendale.”

Organizers said they hoped to raise between $10,000 and $15,000. All food was donated, as were the prizes featured in a raffle and silent auction.

“With the economy being what it is, we’re thankful for anything the community can give us,” Ayvazi said.

Edith Fuentes, a planning administrator for the city, brought along her sisters who were visiting from Virginia.

“It’s a nice thing to do with the family,” she said.