Godfather’s Delivers Pizza and Potential for Boys Town Kids and Families

BOYS TOWN, Nebraska – During its biggest delivery today, Godfather’s pizza held its “Greatest American Pizza Party” for children at Boys Town and announced it will begin a new relationship with the organization to assist at-risk children and troubled families through the efforts of the chain’s headquarters and more than 600 U.S. corporate and franchise locations.

“The Godfather really delivered the goods,” said Boys Town National Executive Director Father Val J. Peter. Godfather’s Pizza will become Boys Town’s first national corporate sponsor in the 87-year-history of the organization, Peter said.

“We’ve been serving children and families a great product for more than 30 years,” said Godfather’s Pizza President and CEO Ron Gartlan. “But our corporate headquarters and our franchisees have been seeking a way to serve a great cause. Supporting Boys Town will take our commitment to kids and families to another level and we will help save lives.”

This is the first such relationship of its kind for Godfather’s Pizza as well, he said.

In the relationship, Godfather’s Pizza will promote the Boys Town National Hotline to families that it distributes more than 20 million pizza boxes to each year; incorporate Boys Town messages in national advertising; encourage franchises to include messages in their advertising; formalize a restaurant fund-raising program; provide internship and job programs to Boys Town youth; and provide pizza to celebrate the positive accomplishments of children and families.

Peter and Gartlan say they are committed to a long-term relationship that will generate significant awareness and donations for Boys Town. Peter said the relationship is the perfect opportunity for two of Omaha’s best-kept secrets to go about helping children. “Godfather’s Pizza, Ron, its franchisees and their customers have big hearts,” he added. “They know there are increasing needs for our services both through our affiliates across the country as well as the increasing numbers of calls we’re receiving through our Hotline.”

Boys Town is a nonprofit, nonsectarian leader in the treatment and care of abused, abandoned and neglected children. Founded by Father Flanagan and made famous by the 1938 Oscar-winning film “Boys Town,” the organization provides direct care and treatment to more than 40,000 girls and boys each year through programs in 14 states and the District of Columbia. In addition to the organization’s national hotline (1-800-448-3000), Boys Town indirectly assists an additional one million children and families through outreach, training and education programs.

Godfather’s Pizza is one of most successful pizza franchises in the United States with more than 600 family oriented restaurants in 40 states. The chain was founded in Omaha more than 30 years ago. It went public in 1982 and was acquired by Pillsbury. In 1988, the senior management team purchased the company.