Thoughtful Partnership: Raymond’s Pizza
When considering a partnership with a business, organization or program we ask ourselves these questions:
Does this partner align with Pause’s mission, vision and values?
Will this partnership benefit the families, kids and volunteers that we serve?
Can Pause further its impact by partnering with this outside organization?
When the answer to all of these questions is “yes!” we feel confident we can officially “Pause approve” the partnership. Over the past eight years, Pause has linked arms with many different partners - including parent coaches and consultants, trauma-responsive therapists, faith based missionaries, social service agencies, local colleges and high schools, local photographers, small businesses and even top tier pizza shops!
Pause has had the pleasure of partnering with Raymond’s Pizza for the past 9 years! Ray’s has graciously discounted pizzas for Pause to serve at many events including:
Parent’s Day & Night Out Events - giving kids a yummy treat to look forward to.
Annual Family Fun Events (aka the Holiday Shoppe & Easter Eggstravaganza) providing 25+ pizzas at each event for families, kids and volunteers to enjoy!
Virtual Family Fun Events (like virtual magic shows and game shows) giving local families the option to pick up their pizza drive-thru style for their family before the show!
Ray’s love for serving his community and his entrepreneurial drive for business ownership has been passed down through generations. It started with his great-grandparents (Italian immigrants from the late 1800s) who were looking to create a better life for themselves. From bakeries, to fruit and vegetable trucks, to owning markets and selling “bake at home pizzas”, Ray’s ancestors had ample experience as entrepreneurs! Ray’s grandfather, Chester, opened Chester’s Pizza (still a business in Hamilton, OH today!) and has fond memories of working in the shop throughout his childhood and into high school. It’s almost a family tradition to work in a pizza shop in Ray’s family!
After going off to college and gaining experience in the corporate world, Ray decided to move back home and start his own pizza shop with the same recipe and heritage that was loved in the local community. In 2008, Raymond’s Pizza officially launched in Liberty Twp and after a lot of hard work has opened a second site in Fairfield Twp. A third location will be coming soon! #StayTuned
Ray believes it’s important to continue this family legacy because he is proud of what his family built and the family values that come along with owning a family business. Almost all of his (very large!) family has worked in the pizza shop at some point because, they too, are proud of what their family has built and have a dedication to serve their local community.
It may seem unlikely, but the Pause story is quite similar to Raymond’s Pizza in several ways including:
Commitment to Serve: Our commitment to serving families and providing the best quality service to our customers/clients (Pause families, volunteers and community members) is the same!
Tailored Product: Raymond’s Pizza is committed to their best practices of what makes their pizza stand out from the rest. Everything is made to order to maintain quality and freshness. Likewise, Pause tailors our services based on each family’s unique needs. Our Family Strategy team individually meets with every Pause family to see how Pause can best serve their family.
Connection: Ray’s Pizza makes it a point to connect with their customers. Their staff get to know the people they serve. They are more than a consumer - they become friends over time. They get to know their families, their kids and become integral in their lives. Pause values people over programs. Our families are never just a number or a name on a list, but instead human beings who all come to the table with a story we have the privilege to hear and be a part of.
“When the opportunity arises that Pause is giving families with special needs a break and we’re giving them an opportunity to have a product that they love, it’s something to look forward to. It’s not just a free pizza. It's a Raymond's Pizza. We try to offer what we believe is a top tier product in quality and effort and do it at a price that makes it easy for organizations.
We feel like at this point, making and delivering pizza is just a little tiny sparkle to give someone some hope - we aren't the magic, Pause is the magic. We just want to make it as easy as possible for Pause’s magic to be successful."
Raymond L., Founder and Owner of Raymond's Pizza
Raymond’s Pizza - thank you for your continued partnership and your commitment to serve. We are proud to stamp you with the “Pause Approved” seal. Hey CAN DO network - next time you’re in Liberty or Fairfield Twp. Ohio - show Ray’s some love and enjoy a top tier pizza!
This is CAN DO. This is COMMUNITY. This is YOUR SUPPORT.
