Hallrich Inc.
Hallrich Inc. CEO Tony Szambecki understands the value of giving back to the communities where his 86 Pizza Hut franchises are located.
Since 1968, the company has contributed time, money and product to thousands of community service projects. Its earliest contributions were in the form of local Little League sponsorships. Today, Hallrich donates at least $300,000 a year in product giveaways to the Book It! children’s literacy program, just one of many programs it supports and sponsors.
A 1999 Pillar Award honoree, Hallrich encourages its 2,000-plus employees to participate in philanthropic efforts and honors those who do at an awards banquet. Last year, Szambecki and Carol Magazzeni, Hallrich’s director of marketing and public relations, were themselves honored by the International Pizza Hut Franchise Holders’ Association.
Since 2000, Hallrich has co-sponsored a book drive to support KidsFair, an annual event held by the Jewish Community Center of Akron to combat illiteracy. In both 2000 and 2001, the drive collected more than 5,000 books.
This year, Hallrich designated its 17 Summit County Pizza Hut locations as drop-off points for donated books and promised an all-school pizza party for the school that donated the most books. The winner donated 3,500 books, and Hallrich delivered lunch for the school’s 800 students.
Main Street Gourmet
Steven Marks, co-CEO of Main Street Gourmet, has built Muffins for Mammograms, the Akron-based company’s partnership with Akron General Health System’s Women’s Health and Cancer Center, into a nationally recognized program that has raised more than $100,000 for mammograms since its inception 10 years ago.
Marks says he and other senior managers believe Main Street Gourmet has a duty to give back to the community. Consequently, this 2000 Pillar Award honoree prides itself for its contributions to charitable, civic and community-related activities.
The company is a continuous donor of food to the Akron Canton Food Bank, which feeds the hungry. Main Street Gourmet’s co-CEO, Harvey Nelson, has served as president of that organization since 1997.
Since 1995, Main Street Gourmet has supported the Weaver School Workshop at its corporate and production facilities. The school works with the mentally challenged. Several students are employed by Main Street Gourmet, which has been recognized by the Board of Mental Retardation and Development Disabilities for its support of people with disabilities.
