Tutta Bella Pizzeria Contributes Over $20,000 to ‘Slice of Hope’ in Effort to EndThisDisease.Org

Pizzerias across the Nation Donated 15 Percent of Sales on October 7 to Breast Cancer Research

Left to Right: Joe Fugere, Garrett Mullen, Jeremy White

(SEATTLE, Wash.) — October 12, 2011 —Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria, with locations in Columbia City, Stone Way, Westlake and Issaquah raised $20,373 for ‘Slice of Hope’—all of which was donated to the Karen Mullen Breast Cancer Foundation, a national charity based in Seattle.

For ‘Slice of Hope’, both national and local pizzerias across the country joined together to support the nation’s leading breast cancer researchers, including those at UW Medicine and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

“The employees and customers really rallied for ‘Slice of Hope’. Two servers at our Stone Way location raised more than $1,500 and the staff at Columbia City donated all of their tips on October 7. It is a testimonial to the generosity of our staff and customers.” says Joe Fugere, owner and founder of Tutta Bella. “This fundraiser is especially impactful because our Westlake location is near the medical centers where promising research is happening,” Fugere continues.

Also on October 7 a small team of cyclists led by Jeremy White, Pizza Today editor and Pete Lachapelle, Pizza Today publisher, completed a 173 mile bike ride from Portland, Ore. to Seattle, Wash., to raise awareness for Slice of Hope’s fight against breast cancer.

“Advances in research give hope to those battling breast cancer, even if it’s for a day, an hour, or a moment—hope means everything to them. That is why we are directing all of the money raised to research—for hope in bringing an end to this disease,” says Garrett Mullen, founder of the Karen Mullen Breast Cancer Foundation.

For a complete list of pizzerias that participated in ‘Slice of Hope’ click here.

High resolution photos are available upon request.

Pizza Today, Slice of Hope is spearheaded by Pizza Today magazine editor Jeremy White.

Karen Mullen Breast Cancer Foundation, has committed to giving 100 percent of the Slice of Hope proceeds to a handful of the nation’s leading breast cancer research labs. www.endthisdisease.org

Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria has three Seattle locations; Columbia City, Stone Way, Westlake and one in Issaquah. For more information on specific locations, visit www.tuttabella.com.

#   #   #