Village Idiot Pizza, based in Columbia, South Carolina, has launch its seventh annual Pizza for Preemies campaign in support of March of Dimes. The campaign kicks off on November 1 and runs through November 30. This year, the restaurant aims to raise at least $10,000, building on last year’s success of $13,253, which brought total contributions to more than $42,000 since the campaign’s start in 2017.
Current owners Kelly and Brian Glynn, who purchased Village Idiot Pizza in 2003, have a personal connection to the cause as parents of premature twins born at 28 weeks. This year marks both the campaign’s seventh anniversary and the twins’ seventh birthday.
Village Idiot Pizza will be a presenting sponsor of the Signature Chef Auction on November 7, an event featuring Columbia’s top chefs, with auctions to raise funds to support the cause. The Glynns also actively contribute to the Prisma Health Richland Hospital’s NICU Family Support Program, a partnership established with March of Dimes to support families with infants in the NICU.
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Customers can support Pizza for Preemies by dining in, taking out or making a direct donation. Both Village Idiot Pizza locations will be bringing back the popular Pesto Preemivera specialty pie, featuring a pesto base, mozzarella, onion, mushroom, tomato, feta and pepperoni, with proceeds directly benefiting March of Dimes. On World Prematurity Day, November 17, Village Idiot Pizza will be offering guests who dine in a chance to win free pizza for a year.
In addition, Village Idiot Pizza will host a Shop & Slice event in collaboration with jewelry company Kendra Scott on November 4 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Guests who purchase items during this event will be entered for a chance to win a $100 Kendra Scott gift card and a $100 Village Idiot Pizza gift card. A percentage of every in-person purchase and online sale using code GIVEBACK-HMNQK through November 4 and November 5 will also be donated directly to March of Dimes as part of Pizza for Preemies promotion.
Village Idiot Pizza has served the Columbia community for more than 30 years as a fixture of the Five Points commercial district since 1990. The New York-style pizzeria and pub was opened by three college friends from New Jersey who lovingly referred to themselves as “the village idiots,” and today Village Idiot Pizza is one of the longest-standing businesses in the area.
The Glynns have longtime ties to the restaurant: They met in their 20s when working at Village Idiot Pizza—Kelly as a server and Brian as a cook. Together, they have expanded to two locations and built a community around good people and good food. The Glynns actively serve on many committees and boards and give back through philanthropic efforts like Pizza for Preemies to support the March of Dimes every November. Village Idiot Pizza also recently announced franchise partnership opportunities throughout South Carolina.
Meanwhile, March of Dimes fights for the health of all moms and babies, with the goal of giving every baby the best possible start in life. For 80 years, the nonprofit has helped millions of babies survive and thrive by supporting moms throughout their pregnancy, advocating for policies that prioritize their health, supporting improvements to the care they receive, and pioneering research to find solutions to the biggest health threats to moms and babies.
