Pizza Operators Around the Country Show Community Involvement
The American Pizza Community (APC) salutes National Pizza Month by giving back to the communities in which pizza operators, franchisees and their corporate brands serve through a variety of charitable efforts. From your child's birthday celebration to your office party or fundraiser, pizza is a time-honored tradition in communities everywhere. The coalition of pizza companies, franchisees, suppliers and other vendors that make up the pizza industry documented that there is no better way to say thanks than to give back to the communities where so many pizza store owners call home."Our industry is proud of its deeply-connected ties to local communities," said Lynn M. Liddle, Chair of the APC. Many pizza shops are owned by local families who give back to their communities throughout the year through local sports and youth club sponsorships and charitable give-aways. "In fact, we encourage all pizza companies to join the APC in these charitable efforts throughout National Pizza Month," continued Liddle. Today there are more than 70,000 pizza stores in the U.S., and 53% are independently owned, according to PMQ 2013 State of the Pizza Industry Report .
Whether it's an independent pizzeria or a franchise that's part of a larger brand, the pizza industry supports causes close to home as well as larger charitable efforts such as hunger relief, childhood development and education programs, disaster relief and providing care to those in need.
Domino's Pizza
Domino's Pizza is teaming up with Girls on the Run®, a 501c3, curriculum-based program providing pre-adolescent girls with the necessary tools to embrace their individual strengths and successfully navigate life experiences. As part of the Girls on the Run® program for 3rd through 5th graders, a member of Domino's corporate team will visit a classroom in Ann Arbor, Michigan to talk about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and how pizza can fit within it. The kids will be treated to Smart Slice, Domino's nutritious product line of pizza specifically designed for school lunches, which allows schools to customize lunch orders using wholesome pizza toppings and ingredients and delivered hot and fresh by local Domino's stores.
Figaro's/Pizza Schmizza/Schmizza Pub & Grub/Nick-N-Willys
Figaro's Pizza outlets, Pizza Schmizza and Schmizza Pub & Grub restaurants, and Nick-N-Willy's in Grand Junction, Colorado has supported H.E.L.P. the Charity (Helping Education with Love and Pizza) since it was created in 2010. H.E.L.P the Charity is a 501c3 organization that provides grants to U.S.-based, non-profit, tax-exempt schools and other entities to support educational programs through its grant programs. To date, nearly $65,000 in grants has been awarded to more than 300 worthy educational programs.
Godfather's Pizza
Godfather's Pizza has been a proud sponsor of Boys Town for ten years. Founded by Father Edward Joseph Flanagan in 1917 while ministering to the homeless on the streets of Omaha, Nebraska, Boys Town gives at-risk children the family, support and care they need to overcome their circumstances and realize their potential. Godfather's Pizza provides financial assistance to Boys Town to further its mission of saving children and healing families through the Boys Town National Hotline number by advertising the information on millions of pizza boxes annually. Godfather's Pizza has increased awareness for the National Hotline, which is staffed 24/7 with specially-trained counselors (800-448-3000).
Hungry Howie's Pizza
Throughout October, Hungry Howie's Pizza will be supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month with the "Love, Hope & Pizza" campaign, whereby all Hungry Howie's Pizza locations will serve pizza in a light pink box with the National Breast Cancer Foundation logo. Additionally, for every pizza sold and for every story of love, hope and inspiration that is shared via social media using #LOVEHOPEPIZZA, Hungry Howie's Pizza will make a donation to the national Breast Cancer Foundation. Hungry Howie's pizza has raised more than $1,000,000 for breast cancer research over the last five years.
Hunt Brothers Pizza
Hunt Brothers Pizza supports many local charitable organizations through its Community Care-a-Van and Pizza-to-the-Rescue programs. Over the past 5 years, Hunt Brothers Pizza has participated in hundreds of events, provided thousands of pizzas and volunteered nearly 8,000 employee hours to help youth and religious organizations which include Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Ronald McDonald House, Best Buddies, Habitat for Humanity, Kevin Harvick Foundation, Bridges of Faith, Victory Junction, Catholic Diocese of Nashville, Lighthouse Ministries, Boy Scouts of America, among others.
Little Caesars
Little Caesars Pizza and its franchisees are dedicated to countless organizations throughout the world. The Little Caesars Love Kitchen is a pizza kitchen on wheels that travels across the United States meeting the needs of the hungry, the homeless and disaster survivors. Franchisees and company regional offices donate all food and labor costs for the Love Kitchen servings. Since its creation in 1985, the Love Kitchen has fed nearly three million people in 48 states. An estimated 50,000 Little Caesars franchise owners and employees have volunteered their time to support the program in their local communities. In addition, the company proudly supports the Little Caesars hockey scholarship program for young men and women who participate in the Little Caesars AAA Hockey program.
Papa John's
Papa John's commitment of "Doing the Most Good" on behalf of The Salvation Army (TSA) is seen throughout the year by efforts from both the corporate company and franchisees everywhere to help raise awareness for TSA's hunger and disaster relief programs, as well as providing meals to local communities. Last year, Papa John's asked Facebook and Twitter users to 'like,' 'share,' and comment on their pages to raise awareness of the challenges in America related to hunger. With every good word, re-tweet and thumbs up, a $1 donation was made by Papa John's to The Salvation Army's feeding programs. In one day, these compassionate supporters and pizza lovers gave over 70,000 likes and 15,000 shares, resulting in a $50,000 donation to help fund The Salvation Army's shelters, pantries and emergency disaster services efforts.
Another great example is when almost 50 Papa John's restaurants across Washington helped Oso mudslide victims by raising $31,556 for the Salvation Army relief fund to help local relief efforts.
Pizza Hut
In 2007, Pizza Hut through its parent company Yum! Brands created the World Hunger Relief (WHR) effort to raise awareness, volunteerism and funds for the United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP) and other global hunger relief agencies. Today, it has become the world's largest private-sector hunger relief effort spanning 110 countries, nearly 38,000 restaurants and over one million employees volunteering nearly 21 million hours totaling more than 350 million meals.
Childhood education is also a priority for Pizza Hut which is why thirty years ago the company created a program called "BOOK IT!" to motivate children to read by rewarding their reading accomplishments with praise, recognition and pizza. BOOK IT! was created in 1984 and currently reaches over 14 million students in 38,000 U.S. elementary schools annually.
On a smaller scale, Pizza Hut franchisees around the country give back to their local communities through donations when disaster strikes and families are in need. Most notably, during the Oso mudslide disaster, $200,000 in donations was collected from a Northwest Pizza Hut franchise group of 108 Pizza Hut restaurants.
About The American Pizza Community
The American Pizza Community is a coalition of the nation's large and small pizza companies, operators, franchisees, vendors, suppliers and other entities that make up the American pizza industry. The coalition was formed in 2010 to advocate for policies affecting pizza companies and operators including menu and labeling information, fair wages, work opportunity tax credit, background checks, tax policies and small business access to capital.
Current members include Blackjack Pizza, Breadeaux Pizza, California Pizza Kitchen, CiCi's Pizza, Domino's Pizza, Figaro's Italian Pizza, Godfather's Pizza, Hungry Howie's, Hunt Brothers Pizza, the International Pizza Hut Franchise Holders Association, Little Caesars, Nick-N-Willy's, Papa John's Pizza, Papa Murphy's Pizza, Papa's Pizza To-Go, Papa Romano's Pizza, Pieology, Pizza Factory, Pizza Schmizza, Sam & Louie's Pizza and Two Boots. Supplier partners include Coca-Cola, Leprino Foods Company, Middleby Marshall, the National Pork Producers Council, Paradise Tomato Kitchens, PepsiCo and Tyson.
10.2.2014