At Romeo’s, we are not just a pizza company. We are a team of Local Pizza Champions that strive to make the world a better place. What does it mean to be a Local Pizza Champion? Making a positive impact on the communities that we serve through pizza donations and partnerships with charitable organizations. When you invest in Romeo’s, you’re giving us the opportunity to invest back into your community. Our community partnerships give us the opportunity to give back, delivering sweet smiles one slice at a time.
Romeo’s Pizza is a proud sponsor of the Arbor Day Foundation. Taking care of the environment is something that has always been important to us as an organization. In 2019, we committed to taking a slice out of our carbon footprint by replacing 750,000 plastic containers with more sustainable, eco-friendly, and recyclable containers that turn to soil in less than 90 days. To date, we have replaced over 2 million plastic containers with recyclable options.
Our partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation is the perfect way to continue our eco-friendly mission through their Time for Trees initiative. Together with the Arbor Day Foundation, we will plant 5,000 trees. Romeo’s partnership will support tree replanting in Econfina Creek and Chipola River Watersheds located in Bay, Calhoun and Washington Counties in Florida. This area lost thousands of acres of standing timber as the eye of Hurricane Michael crossed the Chipola River in 2018.
Reforestation provides forage for game and promotes native groundcover, such as wildflowers and other plants. Additional benefits occur for native game and aquatic species that call this area home such as deer, turkey, bobwhite quail, fish and amphibians.
As the Time for Trees initiative gains awareness and momentum in not only the corporate sustainability world but also within the general public, the impact so far is impressive. As of January 1, 2020, more than 66 million trees have been planted. These trees are helping communities recover from natural disasters such as hurricanes and tornadoes. They are replacing majestic trees lost to wildfires in forests across the country. And they are restoring critical rain forest lands devastated by unsustainable forestry and agriculture practices.
Collectively, when you look at the impact of 66 million trees, it’s hard to wrap your head around. These trees will sequester enough carbon to equal taking more than 4.1 million cars off the road for an entire year. They will intercept and filter enough water to fill the water bottle of every person on Earth every day for nearly four years. And they will provide an estimated $500 million in human health benefits.
While 66 million trees planted is an accomplishment Romeo’s is proud to be a part of, we are just as proud to say that this initiative has inspired more than 3.8 million tree planters so far. These are the people making a difference every day right where they live. They are picking up shovels and ensuring that the impact of the Time for Trees initiative reaches far beyond its 100-million-tree goal. This is where the initiative gains real power, and this is how all of us can find a tangible way to improve the Earth for future generations.
Romeo’s Pizza is a proud partner of the 2nd and 7 Foundation. At Romeo’s, we’re a team of Local Pizza Champions that strive to make a positive impact on the communities that we serve. A big part our Local Pizza Champion initiative is dedicated to supporting local schools and the kids in our communities. We love to see their sweet smiles while they enjoy our pizza. Together with the 2nd & 7 Foundation, we will deliver sweet smiles one slice at a time while encouraging 2nd graders to become readers.
2nd & 7 promotes reading by providing free books and positive role models to kids while encouraging young athletes to pay it forward. In 1999, Ohio State football players Luke Fickell, Ryan Miller and Mike Vrabel began 2nd & 7 using funds from their first-annual football camp. The trio, inspired by their involvement with community outreach, read to second-grade classes in seven Columbus-area schools and sent each second-grader home with a free book. Their focus is to encourage 2nd graders to become readers. Studies have shown that if children are not reading well by the end of 2nd grade, there is trouble ahead. 2nd & 7 is committed to getting books in the hands of children who need them the most. For many kids they visit, the book they give them may be the only book they have at home.
Romeo’s Pizza will become a Reading Program Partner which helps 2nd & 7 write, illustrate, and publish over 90,000 books each year. In addition, we will become the presenting sponsor of the 22nd annual football camp.
On June 21st – 23rd 2021, campers learned football fundamentals from former Buckeyes and local high school football coaches. To ensure a safe and fun environment, the camp was completely non-contact. Beyond football, coaches worked to instill key attributes such as teamwork, goal-setting, positive attitude, and commitment.
“We have valued our relationship with Romeo’s Pizza for years, as they have supported 2nd & 7 for a very long time. The team at Romeo’s is passionate about our mission and we look forward to partnering in many creative ways to make a difference in communities here in Ohio and across the country,” said Amy Hoying, Executive Director of 2nd & 7.