Hundreds of Long Island pizzerias raising money for fallen NYPD Det. Jonathan Diller’s family, police charities
Long Island Pizza Shops Raise Money for Law Enforcement Charities
ELMONT, N.Y. — Pizzerias across Long Island are doing more than making slices this week — they’re raising money to support local law enforcement and first responders through a major fundraiser organized by Long Island Pizza Strong.
Bayport resident Sam Incalcaterra said she came out to support the effort because it hits close to home. Her fiancé is an NYPD officer, and she said the show of support matters just as much as the dollars raised.
Participating pizza shops are donating $5 from every pie sold to three law enforcement-focused charities — Beyond the Badge, Project Thank a Cop, and the Silver Shield Foundation — along with support for the family of fallen NYPD Det. Jonathan Diller, who was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Queens in late March.
“Who doesn’t know a cop? Who doesn’t have a cop that’s a family member?” said Anthony Laurino, owner of Phil’s Pizza in Syosset and co-creator of Long Island Pizza Strong.
Long Island Pizza Strong’s History of Helping Families
Long Island Pizza Strong was created to support families impacted by the Farmingdale marching band bus crash in September 2023, which killed the band’s director and a retired teacher. Laurino said the group previously rallied more than 140 pizzerias and raised $102,000 for the victims.
Supporting Mental Health and Line-of-Duty Families
One of the nonprofit recipients, Beyond the Badge, focuses on suicide prevention and mental health awareness for law enforcement. Co-founder Michelle Panetta said the fundraiser helps the organization reach and support more officers who may be struggling in silence.
Organizers said more than 250 pizzerias took part in this effort. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and PBA President Thomas Shevlin also appeared at King Umberto in Elmont to show support and encourage residents to participate.
“We encourage everybody to go out today, buy a pizza for a hero,” Blakeman said.
Statements from Participating Organizations
In a statement, the Silver Shield Foundation said proceeds from the fundraiser will be directed to its scholarship fund, supporting children and surviving spouses of police officers, firefighters, and EMS members killed in the line of duty across New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey.
Project Thank a Cop also released a statement, thanking organizers for choosing the organization as a beneficiary and noting the fundraiser will help strengthen the bond between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.
How to Find Participating Pizzerias
The fundraiser runs through the end of Wednesday. Long Island Pizza Strong’s website lists participating locations throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties — and even includes two participating pizzerias in South Carolina.
