For the grand opening of its first West Coast store in Los Gatos, California, Firenza Pizza, a fast-casual restaurant that offers custom, made-to-order pizzas from scratch, celebrated by hosting a fundraiser for Los Gatos United Soccer in which patrons were encouraged to make a $2 donation in exchange for a 10-inch pizza. Firenza rounded out the grand opening week with more than 2,500 pizzas given away and a grand donation total of $5,037.
“As a longtime resident, it felt truly rewarding to be able to give back to the community and to connect with other locals,” says store owner Ling Hullon. “Seeing the happy faces of customers while bringing them together for a good cause was truly magical. I feel honored to be part of a brand that’s not only committed to supporting local organizations, but also to creating an unforgettable experience for everyone.”
Los Gatos United Soccer is a non-profit organization that offers recreation and competitive divisions for 1,700 players in Los Gatos and surrounding areas. The program provides players with an opportunity to develop healthy life skills, to learn the rules and strategies of play, and team participation through the game of soccer. The recreational program offers a Fall and Spring program to boys/girls ages 4-16 and is a volunteer-run program.
“Involving the communities through our grand opening fundraisers has been a win for everybody. We are extremely grateful for the overwhelming support and warm welcome we received from the Los Gatos community,” says Dave Wood, Firenza’s cofounder and CEO.
There are now four Firenza locations open and operating, with over 40 more in various stages of development or planning in Wisconsin, North Carolina, Kentucky, Texas, Florida, South Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia.
