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Saint Pio Foundation
(aka The People of Hope)
Press Conference Video
Catholic Charities of Los Angeles Collaborates with Saint Pio Foundation (aka The People of Hope) to Launch “Pizza for a Smile” Initiative
Monsignor Gregory A. Cox, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc., at the Press Conference with Luciano Lamonarca, Founder and CEO of Saint Pio Foundation, Chris Bianco, Award Winning Chef and Restauranter, and Joe Mantegna, American film, theater, and television personality.
Saint Pio Foundation (aka The People of Hope), in collaboration with Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc., presented the “Pizza for a Smile” initiative at a press conference on November 1, 2023, which aired on Good Day LA Morning News, KTTV Fox 11. Originally called “A Margherita for a Smile,” the initiative was renamed “Pizza for a Smile” to reach broader regions in the United States.
The initiative intends to provide pizza for those who experience the daily alienation so common to living a life of poverty in a materialistic world.
Saint Pio Foundation’s (aka The People of Hope) goal is to establish several “Pizza for a Smile” initiatives across the United States, enlisting a variety of mission-driven pizzeria and restaurant owners to pledge a minimum monthly donation of 100 pizzas for their local communities.
“The Saint Pio Foundation chose Catholic Charities because indeed we are like-minded organizations in support of our Catholic faith, and we love working with Monsignor Cox (Executive Director, Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc.) and the staff,” stated Luciano Lamonarca, Founder and CEO of the Saint Pio Foundation.
Supporters of the initiative and present at the event were: Joe Mantegna, American film, theater, and television personality; Chris Bianco, James Beard Award Winning Chef, Restauranter and Spokesperson; and local pizzeria and restaurant owners.
Catholic Charities’ El Santo Niño Community Center was the first recipient of 90 pizzas on November 2 from Pizzeria Bianco, owned by Chris Bianco. On November 6, St. Margaret’s Community Center received 100 pizzas from Fresh Brothers, generously donated by Scott Goldberg, Owner.
Delivery of 90 Pizzas from Pizzeria Bianco at El Santo Niño Community Center:
Chris Bianco and Luciano Lamonarca hand out donated pizzas from Pizzeria Bianco to after-school care children participants at the center.
Children from low-income families were grateful recipients of the generous pizza donations, as shown in the smile of a young girl holding her pizza.
A young boy from the after-school program enjoys the box of pizza he got from Pizzeria Bianco.
Fernando Sarabia, El Santo Niño Community Center Program Coordinator (front row) and (back row, left to right) Larry Rodriguez, El Santo Niño staff, are shown with Chris Bianco and Luciano Lamonarca.
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