By Tracy Morin
Pizzerias are known for being community-focused, but Spinato’s Pizzeria & Family Kitchen, based in Tempe, Arizona, takes “giving back” to a different level than most. “Community is one of our core fundamentals at Spinato’s,” said Jaime Spinato, brand manager and director of community outreach. “We are dedicated to making our surrounding communities better places to live and work. We also believe it is important to build a culture of kindness. And we know that a small act of kindness can go a long way.”
These may be lofty goals, but Spinato’s is making them happen through a dizzying array of efforts at its six locations in Arizona. Recently, PMQ Pizza sat down with Jaime Spinato to discuss how—and why—they do it.
PMQ: How do you choose the missions that are important to you? Why is each important to you personally?
Jaime Spinato: Our mission was born from the passions and values of our family. When establishing our pillars for community outreach, we looked to what mattered most to us. My in-laws and Spinato’s co-founders, Ken and Elaine; my husband, Anthony; and myself—along with my sister-in-law, Nicole, and her husband, Chris—each had a deep love and commitment to children, service animals and veterans. These three causes became the foundation of our mission, shaping the way we give back and serve others. We recognize the great need to support those facing life’s challenges, and through these pillars, we strive to make a meaningful impact. Whether it’s helping children in need, providing resources for service animals, or giving back to those who have sacrificed for our country, our goal is to uplift and support the communities that have given so much to us.
The Kenneth Anthony Spinato Foundation has always been a reflection of our deep-rooted commitment to giving back. In the past, we hosted the annual Spinato’s Golf Tournament, which raised funds to support Phoenix Children’s Hospital and our veterans, making a meaningful impact in the community. However, with the unexpected challenges brought on by COVID, we made the difficult decision to pause our golf events. This pause led our family to take a step back and reimagine the foundation’s future. We are currently in the process of making some exciting changes to expand our reach and impact.
PMQ: How do you support these causes year-round?
Spinato: We support causes through pizza parties, gift card donations, silent auction items and direct funding, but we also strive to be creative in how we make an impact. Beyond financial support, we focus on creating fun and meaningful volunteer opportunities for our team, allowing them to connect with the community in hands-on ways. This year, we’re hosting a cooking class for the residents at A New Leaf, giving them a chance to learn new skills while sharing a meal together. This wonderful nonprofit provides housing and shelter to families facing homelessness, support to victims of sexual and domestic violence, and other services to families in need.
We’re also launching our very first Season of Giving initiative, where we’ll partner with Sleep in Heavenly Peace to build beds for children in our community who don’t have a place to sleep and Christmas for a family. Sleep in Heavenly Peace is an international nonprofit whose mission is to “ensure that no kid sleeps on the floor.”
Another exciting initiative this year is our continued partnership with Magicians On Mission, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the well-being and mental health of our troops by bringing them moments of joy and connection through entertainment. Our guests can experience the magic firsthand during our Wine Up Wednesdays, where Magicians On Mission will provide tableside magic and entertainment at our restaurants. As part of this partnership, a portion of proceeds from One Hope wine sales will go directly to support their incredible work.
PMQ: How do you get team members and customers involved, and what has been their feedback on your efforts?
Spinato: Company culture is very important to Spinato’s, and we encourage team members to take time to volunteer for causes that are close to their own hearts. One of our 26 fundamentals is to “Serve outside our walls.” We offer two paid days (16 hours) in their benefits package for volunteering. They can choose to volunteer for a nonprofit that we support, or they can choose to help a different nonprofit.
Our guests are wonderful, and we try to be creative in our approach to getting them engaged. For example, with a portion of proceeds of different food items such as LTOs, desserts, etc., we made Kindness Bags that guests could pick up in stores and distribute to someone in need. We even sold dog treats from a local bakery called Happy Tails Barkery, where a portion of proceeds went to Dogs 4 Vets, a local training facility for service animals.
PMQ: How do your efforts benefit employees and customers, as well as the causes and the pizzeria?
Spinato: Authenticity is at the heart of our giving. When we support a cause, it’s because we truly believe in it and have taken the time to understand how we can make the greatest impact. Our guests and team members trust that our efforts come from a genuine place—not just a desire to give, but to give in a way that is meaningful. Whether through donations, hands-on involvement or creative partnerships, we strive to make a real difference—one that strengthens our community and brings people together in a spirit of kindness and support.
Our primary goal is to deliver “The Spinato’s Experience,” which means that we strive to exceed expectations and ensure guests feel like they are part of the family, whether dining in, taking out, or having food delivered or catered. Community is an extension of “The Spinato’s Experience.” We know that we could not have grown over 51 years without the support of our local community, and that’s a key reason why we believe so strongly in giving back.
PMQ: How do you communicate your mission to the community and drum up support?
Spinato: When we partner with a nonprofit, we start by truly understanding their mission and goals, ensuring our efforts align with their needs. Collaboration is key, working hand in hand to find impactful ways to raise awareness and rally support. In a world filled with constant messages, we strive to “cut through the noise” by creating engaging initiatives that connect with our guests, team members, partners and vendors meaningfully.
We also embrace every opportunity to get creative, bringing our unique Spinato’s touch to fundraising. Whether it’s through specialty menu items, handcrafted cocktails or interactive promotions, we love highlighting the talents of our kitchen staff, bartenders and team members to make giving back a truly memorable experience.
Spinato’s is in the people business more than the pizza business. Our focus has always been and will always be people before pizza. Our family-owned business has grown over five decades because our local community has supported us, and we believe it is only right to give back.
Read more about Spinato’s charitable focus in the May 2025 issue of PMQ.
