Bronx native and Food Network star Christian Petroni has teamed up with fellow chef Alex Guarnaschelli for Nutella’s Stacks for Giving Back program supporting local fire departments nationwide.
Now in its third year, Nutella’s Stacks for Giving Back program partners with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) to help provide fire departments that have at least one active NVFC member with Nutella Pancake Kits for fundraising events. The funds raised help ease the financial constraints many volunteer departments face.
“They’re getting grants together for fire houses that are volunteer-based, because they sometimes have a harder time raising money or getting the things that they need to run into a burning building for us,” Petroni said. “This is the least we can all do.”
Through the program, members of the public can nominate a local fire department to receive a Nutella Pancake Kit, complete with everything needed for a pancake breakfast fundraiser, including jars of Nutella, Pearl Milling Company’s pancake mix, aprons, spatulas and more.
Petroni has even shared his favorite pancake recipe to inspire firefighters’ creations at their next pancake breakfast.
“It’s a very simple, approachable, everyday recipe [done] by bringing in the flavor profiles of banana bread,” Petroni said. “So some cinnamon, ripe bananas, and it works so well with that quintessential drizzle of Nutella over the top.”
A total of 350 fire departments will receive kits, and for nominating, it’s possible to win a branded hat, a custom jar of Nutella or even a signed cookbook from Alex Guarnaschelli.
Last year, the program was able to donate 150 pancake kits for fundraising events and $25k in grants to help the fire department purchase equipment, recruit and train firefighters and cover other critical needs.
“I have dear friends [who] are firemen and women in New York City and I wish I [could] do more, and so to be able to take this stance with Nutella has been a pleasure,” Petroni said. “Stacks For Giving Back is one of those programs that I just feel so honored to be a part of.”
Applications to nominate fire departments are open from Feb. 18 to April 30 at www.nutellastacksforgivingback.com.
For more information on eligibility requirements, visit www.nvfc.org/nutellastacksforgivingback/.
