When David Goldy took over a defunct Westside Pizza franchise location in Lompoc, California, in 2013, he knew he had an uphill battle on his hands. The previous pizzeria had a poor reputation within the small city, which is located in Santa Barbara County.
So Goldy rebranded to Wild West Pizza & Grill and began a furious campaign to give back to the community and get his product in people’s mouths. Twelve years later, his community-minded efforts haven’t stopped—and they were recently recognized in the form of a $15,000 grand prize in Hillshire Farm’s 4th Annual Great Pizza Give Back contest.
“Giving back isn’t a strategy—it’s who we are,” Goldy said via a press release distributed by Hillshire Farm. “We believe small acts of kindness can make a big difference, and this recognition allows us to grow our programs and further support the Lompoc community.”
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Goldy and his team were selected for their “outstanding dedication to community service, most notably their innovative ‘Be Nice for a Slice’ program, which motivates anti-bullying in schools by rewarding acts of kindness with free pizza,” the press release stated.
The “Be Nice for a Slice” program works like this: If teachers witness a student demonstrating positive behavior, they can give the student a certificate for a free slice of pizza. With the $15,000 prize, Goldy said he plans to extend his work with local schools by developing an online resource hub where teachers can access lesson plans and materials to inspire kindness and inclusion among students.
A 2015 PMQ Pizza interview with Goldy proves his charitable efforts began long ago. “Many folks in town thought Westside simply changed its name rather than actually becoming a new pizzeria,” Goldy told PMQ Pizza in 2015. “I was not particularly well-financed, so costly marketing campaigns were out of the question. I decided that to succeed, we needed to be unique and have a strong commitment to quality and to our local community.”
Some of Wild West Pizza & Grill’s other charitable efforts include:
- Partnering with the Lompoc Police Department on a “Positive Ticketing” program that rewards kids caught doing something good with free pizza
- Offering free pizzas to veterans each Veterans Day
- Delivering pizzas monthly to volunteers maintaining a local bike park
- Feeding unpaid penitentiary staff during the federal shutdown
- Providing kids’ meals during COVID and matching donations to support essential workers through their “Heroes Fund”
- Honoring first responders each September 11 by donating dinner to all local firehouses and a nearby military base
“Independent restaurants are deeply rooted in their communities, and Wild West Pizza embodies that spirit of service,” said Bruce Engelmann, director of foodservice category marketing for Hillshire Farm brand. “Dave and his team demonstrate how small acts can create a big impact, from supporting students and veterans to celebrating first responders. We’re proud to recognize their work through the Great Pizza Give Back.”
Goldy’s distinct brand extends beyond its efforts in the Lompoc community. The shop’s design and decor give off “western” vibes, as does the menu. Pizzas are named after figures like Buffalo Bill and Sacajawea. There’s a Deadwood pie and a Magnificent 7 one, too.
“My dad was a huge western fan,” Goldy told PMQ Pizza in 2015. “Lompoc is an old cowboy town, and former western actor Stuart Whitman [formerly owned] the shopping center that the pizzeria is located in.”
