Marco's Pizza Teams up with Schools to Make Fundraising Fun

Business, Community and Schools Working Together toward $20,000 in Awards. End Quote

Cleveland-Lorain-Elyria, OH (1888PressRelease) August 13, 2013 - Schools all over the country struggle with budgets and funding issues, and Northeast Ohio is no different. That is why Marco's Pizza franchisees, part of the fastest growing pizza company in the United States, have created the Online School Challenge as a way for schools to earn extra funds for programs they may otherwise have to sacrifice. The program is piloting in the greater Cleveland and Toledo areas in Ohio.

The concept is simple. Order Pizza online anytime during the school year and Marco's Pizza will award "pizza points" to the designated school that will receive credit for the order. At the end of the challenge, Marco's Pizza will award $20,000 in prizes, spread among the top five schools with the most pizza points. In addition Marco's Pizza will award $500 each month during the school year to the school with the most points for that month.

"The beauty of the Challenge is that it draws the whole community together in ways that benefit all," commented Matt Baker, Marco's Pizza Franchisee with stores in Stow and Cuyahoga Falls. "Schools benefit with $20,000 in prize money, and they seem to appreciate the competitive spirit. Marco's benefits by providing schools with this opportunity and serving the community, and of course families benefit because they are getting the Ah!thentic Italian experience when they order Marco's."

Marco's Pizza will post monthly point leaders throughout the year on their Facebook page, thereby making the Challenge part of the community conversation.

As in all Italian cuisine, Marco's Pizza is known for fresh ingredients including dough made fresh in the stores every day, meats without fillers, sauce made daily in each store, and fresh, never-ever-frozen cheese.

Baker and other Marco's Pizza franchisees have long been active with schools, routinely holding School Pizza Nights, where kids decorate pizza boxes that are then filled with delicious pizza for dinner at the family table.

Parent Teacher Associations are a big fan of the efforts, according to one PTA member for the Cuyahoga Falls School District, Susan Keller. "I've never seen anything like the Box Night offered through Marco's. It was awesome to be able to order pizza and have it delivered in the box that my own child decorated. Marco's truly cares about the schools and makes it fun for everybody."

Baker adds, "PTA groups tell us they like it because it's the easiest execution of a fundraiser ever because Marco's does all the work, unlike other events such as bake sales, garage sales and Tupper Ware parties."

Counties included in the Online Challenge are Lucas, Wood, Ottawa and Fulton Counties (the "Toledo Area") and to eligible and participating schools in Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, Summit, Huron, Erie, Ashland, Stark and Richland Counties (the "Cleveland Area").

How it Works
• Schools are listed on the local Marco's Pizza online ordering site. (Marco's also posts fundraising ideas for schools to make the most of the opportunity, found at Marcos.com/challenge.)
• When parents/friends/neighbors order online they simply designate their school.
• Pizza points will be earned for every online order. Each school, based on the number of students, will have a point factor that makes it fair for schools of all sizes, and each have an equal chance of winning.
• Pizza Points will be updated monthly and communicated to the schools, adding to the "challenge" element between schools.

Prizes
• 1st Place $10,000 and a pizza party
• 2nd Place $2,500
• 3rd Place $1,500
• 4th Place $1,000
• 5th Place $500
• 6th Place $500
• Monthly prize of $500 to the school with the most Pizza Points for the month.

ABOUT MARCO'S PIZZA:
Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Marco's Pizza (Marco's Franchising, LLC) is the fastest-growing pizza company in the U.S. (based on the number of stores signed into development since 2007). Marco's was founded in 1978 by Italian born, Pasquale ("Pat") Giammarco and thrives by making Italian Pizza with fresh ingredients. The company has grown from its roots as a beloved Ohio brand to operate more than 380 stores in 29 states, the Bahamas and Panama. Marco's Pizza recently ranked 11th place in the "2012 Pizza Industry Top 100 Movers & Shakers" by PizzaMarketPlace.com. To inquire about franchise opportunities with Marco's Pizza visit marcosfranchising.com.

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