Long Island Pizza Strong Raises $105,000 for West Babylon Car Crash Victims
Long Island Pizza Strong presented a $105,000 donation to the families of the teens affected by the tragic West Babylon car crash. The check presentation ceremony took place on Saturday, November 23, at Gino’s Pizzeria in West Babylon, where community members, families, and local officials, including Town of Babylon Supervisor Rich Schaffer, gathered to honor the fundraiser’s success.
The event, held on October 23, 2024, brought together 199 pizzerias across Nassau and Suffolk Counties. For every pizza pie sold at participating establishments, $5 was donated to support the families of Riley Goot, Bella Trezza, Austin Trezza, Jack Murphy, and Anthony Pagliuca—the teens impacted by the crash.
The fundraiser, organized by Long Island Pizza Strong, surpassed expectations, raising $105,000. Town of Babylon Supervisor Rich Schaffer led the check presentation, emphasizing the community’s resilience and generosity. The families of the victims—the Trezza, Pagliuca, Goot, and Murphy families—were present to receive the funds.
“We are honored to have the funds from our 3rd fundraiser to go to your families, and we hope it helps,” said Long Island Pizza Strong in a social media post.
Long Island Pizza Strong has a proven history of rallying the community in times of tragedy, having previously raised $102,200 for the Farmingdale bus crash victims and $181,500 for Officer Jonathan Diller’s family. This year’s event further solidifies its commitment to making a difference in the lives of those in need.
Long Island Pizza Strong was founded by Anthony Laurino, owner of Phil’s Pizzeria in Syosset; Jim Serpico, creator of Side Hustle Bread; and Alyssa Guidice, founder of the popular Dine-LI foodie Facebook group. Together, they launched the initiative as a way to bring the Long Island community together in times of need. Their combined passion for food and philanthropy has made Long Island Pizza Strong a trusted organization, known for mobilizing local businesses to support families facing unimaginable tragedies.
The outpouring of support highlights the power of Long Island’s close-knit community. Long Island Pizza Strong encourages residents to stay connected with future efforts by following @lipizzastrong on social media.
