The Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association (PRLA) recently gathered at the Peddler’s Inn in Lahaska, Pa for their annual spring meeting. A highlight of this meeting is the presentation of the Restaurant Neighbor Award.
Fifteen years ago, the National Restaurant Association together with the award’s founding partner, American Express, created the Restaurant Neighbor Award to help honor restaurants in the field of outstanding community service and involvement. Ninety percent of restaurants are actively involved in community activities and this award highlights the positive contributions restaurants make in their local neighborhoods each and every day.
John Graf, Proprietor of Priory Hotel, Pittsburgh and current Vice Chairman of the Board, presented the small business category of the Restaurant Neighbor Award to Punxsy Pizza.
Graf commented: “Punxsy Pizza’s owner, Scott Anthony, created a community event to benefit the town’s fire department and has provided almost 4,000 smoke detectors to the community since its inception 13 years ago. Last year the restaurant sold 4,430 pizzas and raised more than $43,000. Since it started the program has raised more than $370,000 in an effort to keep the community safe.”
“The Punxsutawney Fire Department makes, cooks, delivers pizza and then checks and replaces batteries as well as hands out smoke detectors to those in need,” says Scott Depp, Punxsutawney’s fire chief. In addition the restaurant raises funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Punxsutawney Community Center, AJ Parise Football, and Boy Scouts of America.
Depp represented the Punxsutawney Fire Department at the presentation dinner. Depp added, “This marks the third consecutive year that Punxsy’s Pizza and Prevention event has been given this state honor.”
Other state winners included, Auntie Ann’s Inc. of Lancaster, The Rose Group of Newton, Irish Pub of Philadelphia & Ollie’s Restaurant of Edmundsville.
Scott Anthony accepts the Restaurant Neighbor Award
Punxsy Pizza
115 North Findley Street
Punxsutawney, PA 15767
814.938.8132
www.PunxsyPizza.com