Pizza for a Cause
All proceeds in the month of September from Sgt. Pepperoni’s Pizza of the Month, The Parma Pie, will be donated to CHOC. Photo credit Sgt. Pepperoni’s.
Irvine’s newest pizzeria is ready to do some good. The recently opened Irvine outpost of Sgt. Pepperoni’s Pizza in Campus Plaza will participate in the company’s annual fundraiser for Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). All proceeds in the month of September from its Pizza of the Month, The Parma Pie, and desserts will be donated to CHOC.
Sgt. Pepperoni’s support CHOC’s patients through its partnership with Julian’s LEGO® Corner. This Orange County-based charity donates new LEGO® kits for hospitalized children to play with while they undergo medical care at CHOC. This partnership has endured for years as a cornerstone of Sgt. Pepperoni’s mission to support the communities in which it operates. Every September, Sgt. Pepperoni’s stores contribute to Julian’s LEGO® Corner in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Last year, Sgt. Pepperoni’s raised $16,000, and the team hopes to raise even more in 2021.
While many restaurants partner with local charities, the connection behind Sgt. Pepperoni’s and Julian’s LEGO® Corner stems back to a friendship between cancer patient Julian Dunn friendship and the daughter of Sgt. Pepperoni’s co-owners Erica and Jeff Roberts. Their daughter, Lauren Roberts, paved the way for Sgt. Pepperoni’s passion to help CHOC patients.
Lauren and Julian were classmates, neighbors, and friends when Julian was diagnosed with brain cancer and had to undergo strenuous treatment. Lauren stepped up to raise money with a lemonade stand to show her support for Julian.
“She was only five years old at the time, but she knew how to make cookies and lemonade,” says Lauren’s mother, Erica Roberts. “She said, ‘Mom, I want to do a lemonade stand for Julian.’”
On that day alone, Lauren raised more than $1,500 with her lemonade stand. Her efforts for Julian didn’t stop there. Lauren continued running lemonade stands to raise money for Julian over the next few years. She also hosted a musical event in Julian’s honor, Jammin’ for Julian.
Now in high school, Lauren has created Sweet Things For A Sweet Cause, a collection of desserts benefitting Julian’s LEGO® Corner that are available for purchase at Sgt. Pepperoni’s stores year-round.
Sgt. Pepperoni’s builds upon Lauren's efforts for Julian’s LEGO® Corner with the company’s yearly, month-long fundraiser to commemorate Julian's strength and bravery. Now in its sixth year, the fundraiser helps spread awareness for Julian’s LEGO® Corner and celebrates Julian’s legacy by supporting CHOC’s patients.
Want to help? Sgt. Pepperoni’s will be collecting new LEGO® sets and cash donations at all three locations (Aliso Viejo, Newport Beach and Irvine) for CHOC patients throughout September. Additionally, all proceeds in the month of September from the Pizza of the Month, The Parma Pie, and desserts will be donated to Julian’s LEGO® Corner. Desserts include Erica's Traditional Cheesecake, Erica's Oreo NY Cheesecake, Lauren's Brownie, and Lauren's Cookie.
Sgt. Pepperoni’s Irvine is located at 4533 Campus Drive, in Irvine’s Campus Plaza. Learn more about Sweet Things for a Cause and Julien’s Lego® Corner.