LAKEWOOD — The Arlington Chapter of Dollars For Scholars will stage a fundraising event at Boston’s Gourmet Pizza Restaurant in Lakewood from 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 21.

During this event, Boston’s will award Dollars For Scholars 10 percent of all food orders placed by both dine-in and take-out patrons.

The Arlington Chapter of Dollars For Scholars has been helping students pay for college for more than a decade, but in the current struggling economy, its members have acknowledged the challenges of meeting the needs of everyone who applies for a scholarship.

“In 2009, we awarded 106 scholarships worth just over $100,000, but by 2011, we had only $50,000 to give,” Arlington Dollars For Scholars Chapter President Sandie Cooper said. “Our donors are unbelievably generous, but our board members want to raise as much money for students as we possibly can.”

Every year, the Arlington Dollars For Scholars Chapter hosts a Bingo challenge in October.

“This has been our big event of the year, but now our goal is to exceed the amount of money we’ve raised in the past,” Cooper said. “We are all too aware of the rising costs of college that every student now faces.”

With this goal in mind, Cooper urged supporters of the Arlington Dollars For Scholars Chapter to pack Boston’s on Feb. 21 to make their fundraiser a success.

“We invite everyone who has benefitted from our organization, and everyone who might do so in the future, to come out and support us,” Cooper said.

Take-out orders and all food ordered at the restaurant will be factored into the profits, but alcohol and food ordered in the bar are not part of the program.

“Let’s hope lots of folks decide on pizza and a soda or two for dinner on Feb. 21,” Cooper chuckled.

Boston’s Gourmet Pizza is located at 16918 Twin Lakes Ave. in Marysville, at Lakewood Crossing, and can be reached by phone at 360-652-9999.

To learn more about the Arlington Chapter of Dollars For Scholars, log onto www.arlingtondfs.org.