For 39 years, Mr. Pizza South and the Mayo Booster Club have partnered for sporting events, bringing fans delicious slices from the concession stand. Since the 1986-1987 school year, Mr. Pizza has maintained a steady presence at Mayo events, with the exception of the 2017–2018 school year, the one and only time Mayo High School partnered with Pasquale’s, another pizza establishment in the downtown area. Mr. Pizza’s support of the school proves that a local family business and a high school can build a relationship that is beneficial for both and remains ongoing for years to come.

In fact, the relationship with Mr. Pizza has worked out for the Booster Club. The quality of the food is exceptional; additionally, the owner Ryan Fulton and his employees at Mr. Pizza are great to work with. It’s not always as easy as people think. It takes a massive amount of coordination. Every week, Fulton communicates with a member from the Booster Club to decide how many pizzas are needed for upcoming events along with scheduling a time to pick up the pizza. It’s hard to predict how much food the Booster Club will need without running out too early or having too much left over, which is a tough task to accomplish. Still, the partnership has been worth the challenge.

The many volunteers who take time out of their day work in conjunction with Mr. Pizza’s staff to create a successful night of serving the concessions. A few who stand out include Diane Stubbs, Kate Thompson, Meghan Barry, and Andrea Kukla, as well as Ken and Kelli Burger. “They’ve all been wonderful to work with, and I truly appreciate the dedication they’ve shown over the years,” said Fulton. These volunteers help the staff at Mr. Pizza by making the process run smoothly. What we customers notice is that they keep the lines moving at the concession stands with friendliness and efficiency.

From a student’s perspective, senior Owen Pike is glad that Mayo has this longstanding connection with a local business. “Their pizza is solid. I really like the crust,” he said. Beyond that, Pike sees how, “the profits from selling pizza at the concession stand get put back into our school to help fund different events for us.” Mr. Pizza gives the Booster Club a fair discount on every pizza, helping to raise money for school programs. This helps keep programs funded and gives the opportunity to students who participate in these activities.

This bond is about more than just a business deal; it’s about the relationships built between the school and the restaurant. Mr. Pizza enjoys helping out for all sporting events. Ryan states, “we’re happy to support them regardless of the number of pizzas sold.”  As Mr. Pizza continues to show up for most events every week, they’re helping keep this amazing Rochester tradition alive. Mr. Pizza is proud to be a part of the Mayo community, and they hope this relationship continues for years to come.