Paying It Forward
From the day we opened our first location in Columbia Heights in the Spring of 2008, Pete’s has coupled eating well with doing good. From hosting fundraisers in our restaurants to sponsoring “Pizza Nite” events in apartment lobbies, we’ve made it our business to support the communities where we’re located.
Our priorities include schools, organizations focused on healthy eating and supporting the local and natural food supply chain, and nonprofits that serve families struggling to make ends meet. As our business grows, so will our giving. Here’s a sampling:
Takoma Park Safe Routes to School 5K
We’ve been a proud sponsor of the Takoma Park Safe Routes to School 5K, a community event that has been supporting health, fitness, and bike and pedestrian safety activities at our local schools for the last ten years. Register at tkpk5k.com and join us on Sunday, May 6!
25% GIVE BACK FOR SCHOOLS
With kids in public schools in both DC and Fairfax County, we know all too well that schools have limited budgets, and that teachers routinely buy their own supplies, or simply do without. That’s why we created the 25% Give Back for Schools program. We work with school administrators and PTA representatives to create fun and profitable school fundraisers. Schools select a date, then promote the event beforehand in order to generate as much traffic as possible, with friends, family and colleagues spreading the word. On the day of the fundraiser, from the minute we open the doors to the minute we close at the end of the night, anyone affiliated with the school simply has to mention the school when ordering, and we automatically set aside 25% of that customer’s total sale price and send the money right back to the school. Some schools promote the all-day fundraiser, while others set a time and hold a party with schoolkids and their friends and families. Already dozens of schools have held fundraisers, some raising up to $1,000 per date. To schedule a date for your school, contact steve@petesapizza.com
RACE FOR A CAUSE
Since the event’s inaugural race in 2009, Pete’s has participated annually in the Acumen Solutions Race for a Cause. It’s an event in which participants select a charity to support, then assemble a team to run the race and make a donation. We have chosen to support The Reading Connection. And yes, with running always on our minds, we slip on our running shoes and join the race, along with kids and families from numerous area elementary schools.
BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE…
We’ve also been known to jump in when an issue tugs at our heart strings. Food & Friends prepares and delivers specialized meals to people with life-challenging illnesses for free. We think that it’s a good fit with our Eat Well, Do Good giving initiative, so we’ve developed several ways to support their mission. We’ve joined forces with a number of other DC area restaurants to participate in the annual “Dining Out for Life” event, donating 25% of sales from that day to the organization. We also lead chef’s demonstrations for Miriam’s Kitchen, and several times a year, our co-founder and Executive Chef, Tom Marr, donates time and nutritious ingredients to prepare a meal for distribution to Miriam’s Kitchen clients. We also participate in several of the area’s Farmers’ Markets by leading chef’s demonstrations using ingredients from the vendors at the market itself.
GIVING BACK: A WAY TO SAY THANK YOU
These big programs are really just the tip of the iceberg. We proudly respond to countless requests for donations for school and nonprofit fundraisers, as well as customers who are participating in fundraising events such as races and walks. To us, being a local business is much more than selling our product to members of the community; it’s about being an integral part of the community. Without the enthusiastic support of our neighbors, both individuals and organizations, we couldn’t survive. Giving back is one small way that we can thank you for your support over the years.