Coppell, Texas–CiCi’s Pizza recently presented Big Brothers Big Sisters with a check totaling $26,000 at the charity’s headquarters in Irving, Texas during an all-region board meeting. The money raised by CiCi’s Pizza’s team members was generated from the company’s successful Penny Picker Upper campaign, a silent auction at CiCi’s annual conference, and inkind pizza party donations from the Bowl for Kids Sake events. Big Brothers Big Sisters will earmark the funds to support youth mentoring services to children in local communities.

We are proud to have Big Brothers Big Sisters as a philanthropic partner, said Steve Hawter, V.P. of Training. “The work Big Brothers Big Sisters accomplishes in our communities closely aligns with our vested interest in children. By supporting the organization’s efforts, CiCis can positively impact the lives of children in a way that will change them forever.

In addition to cash donations, CiCis also supports Big Brothers Big Sisters by providing pizza to more than 5,000 participants annually during Bowl for Kids Sake events at no cost to the agency. 

 We are only able to grow our life-changing mentoring services to children through the financial support of others, said Charles Pierson, CEO Big Brothers Big Sisters.  CiCis has touched us with their philanthropic spirit by not only providing their product to our event participants, but by also providing the financial support that is the life-line of everything we do.

Founded in 1985, CiCi’s Pizza is a family-oriented restaurant serving guests fresh pizza, pasta, salad and dessert, all you want for about five bucks and change. CiCis mission then and now is to exceed each guest’s expectation in food, service and cleanliness at an affordable price. Since opening its first restaurant in Plano, Texas, CiCis has grown to almost 650 restaurants in 32 states.

In 2006, CiCi’s introduced the carry-out only To-Go restaurants with 13 operating in Texas, Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma and California. 

Industry professionals have taken notice of CiCis Pizza’s continuous growth and success. USA Today featured CiCi’s Pizza in the Money section positioning the brand as the value leader within the restaurant industry. In 2009, Restaurants & Institutions Consumers’ Choice in Chains recognized CiCi’s Pizza as a top pizza chain in America, as well as an honor in Best in Value. Nation’s Restaurant News has ranked CiCis number one for sales and unit growth in the pizza chain category for the past three years. In its recent 2009 ranking, Entrepreneur magazine’s Annual Franchise Top 500 issue, ranked CiCi’s Pizza as number one in the Italian restaurant industry category an honor the company also received in 2007. Men’s Health recently included CiCi’s Pizza in it’s list of America’s Healthiest Restaurants. StartupJournal.com, The Wall Street Journals guide for entrepreneurs, ranked CiCis as one of the top 25 highest-performing brands in the nation and Franchise Today placed the company in the top 200 of all franchise concepts. For more information visit www.cicispizza.com.