Talking Over Pizza raises funds for The Bridge

By Mark Ribble

LEAMINGTON — Although the final tallies aren’t quite ready, all signs point to a very successful Talking Over Pizza event at Dominos Leamington on Saturday, February 27.

With the November postponement of Talking Over Turkey still fresh in their minds, Deanna and Mike Diab turned their attention to other ways of helping their community and have been busy pitching in with different organizations over the past months.

Saturday’s Talking Over Pizza benefited The Bridge Youth Resource Centre and the Diabs were present, nice and early, at a busy Leamington Dominos location.

Deanna and Mike Diab at Dominos Leamington on Saturday, February 27.

Mike tried his hand at flipping pizza dough in the air and helping to get pizzas ready with the Dominos staff, led by manager Brandy Van Every.

Dominos Leamington owner, Zubaer Parvez, pledged to donate a portion from each $15 pizza sold, to The Bridge.

As of press time, Talking Over Pizza was expected to surpass their $5000 goal, but the results were still being tabulated.

Hundreds of pizzas went out the door over the course of the day, creating a nice windfall for The Bridge.

The Diabs were there every step of the way, making sure that everyone was acknowledged as they picked up their ‘pizza for a cause’.

Mike Diab and Brandy Van Every at Talking Over Pizza.

Sun photos

“It’s all about talking to each other,” he said. “Whether you’re talking to someone over a turkey or a pizza, you’re still talking and that’s the key.”

Dominos employee Alyssa Quick, donated all of her tips from the day, and then tripled them as a donation to the cause.

Diab said they chose The Bridge because they’ve seen the work being done there.

“The Bridge is a great cause,” he said. “They do great work for our community.”

The Bridge provides resources, shelter, education and programs to help youth ages 14-24 who may need a leg-up from time-to-time, and the funds will be put to good use.

Mike’s dozens of attempts at flipping pizza dough in the air were met with many smiles by staff and customers alike.

“I put holes in the pizzas,” he laughed. "Thanks to Dominos. We couldn’t do this without them.”

“The phone has been ringing all day,” he said at 4 pm. “Come see how hard these people are working.”

At the end of the day, with flour, cornmeal and sauce remnants on his blue Dominos shirt, Mike Diab stepped away with his wife to begin the task of tabulating the generous donations that came in.

“The generosity of this community is amazing,” he said. “Leamington’s amazing response is always appreciated.”