Meet Our 2024 Great Pizza Give Back Grand Prize Winner

MVP Pizza, Hulbert, OK

MVP Pizza window logo with the owners and employees taking a picture in front of it

Slice by slice, person by person, Abigail Manes and her coworkers are serving their community.

Ask Abigail Manes why she and her family are so committed to doing good in the community of Hulbert, Oklahoma, and the answer comes easily: “It’s just how we were raised. We do our best to spread kindness and give back every chance we get.”

Abigail, her sister Rebecca and their parents, Scott and Brigette, are all involved in the community-oriented MVP Pizza, which boasts a tight-knit, dynamic team where everyone is family. Abigail and Rebecca are sixth-generation residents of Hulbert. Another MVP Pizza employee, Boonie, actually grew up in the spot where the MVP Pizza stands. And though she now lives nearly an hour away, she makes the commute because she enjoys the culture of service and kindness Abigail has built here. MVP Pizza “pulls the community together,” Boonie says. It’s safe to say she still feels the place is home.

“MVP Pizza pulls the community together.” —Anita “Boonie” Leonard, MVP Pizza Employee

Abigail feels a strong pull to give back to the town that has given her family so much. One of her favorite ways of serving Hulbert is hosting Family Fun Day. “We host this free event and donate the pizzas to the town so that they can come and celebrate and have a wholesome, stress-free time with family and friends without worrying about expenses,” she says.

The event, which attracts hundreds of attendees to Hulbert, features free inflatables, live music, complimentary food and drinks, prize giveaways, games, pony rides and face painting.

MVP Pizza also supports the community by regularly donating pizzas to the local elementary school, high school, church and Reaching Our Hulbert Community (a local non-profit), as well as hosting a variety of other local events like Movies In The Park, Cruise Nights, Rider Hall of Fame and the annual Christmas Parade. They also use proceeds from merchandise sales to award college scholarships to students pursuing non-traditional career paths.

With the prize money, the team plans to make changes to keep the community thriving.

They are planning to repair their aging pizza oven so they can continue to deliver the smiles, support and pizzas to the folks of Hulbert. They are also developing new initiatives to positively impact the local schools and beautify the community.

Congratulations to Abigail, Rebecca, Scott, Brigette and the entire team at MVP Pizza.
Thank you for making a difference!

Girl with red apron holding a pizza on a wooden sleet
Ways MVP supports their community:
 
  • Donating pizzas to the Hulbert schools, church and Reaching Our Hulbert Community (a local non-profit)
  • Hosting a variety of events including Family Fun Day, Movies In The Park, Cruise Nights, Rider Hall of Fame and the local Christmas Parade
  • Providing $2,500 college scholarships to local high school students
  • Developing new initiatives to repair and beautify the town

Read About All of Our Past Grand Prize Winners

2023 Great Pizza Give Back winner owner with red hat and apron, crossing hands
Our 2023 Grand Prize Winner
Dayton’s Original Pizza Factory, Dayton, OH

Sponsoring youth athletics and supporting student-focused activities is just scratching the surface of all that Dayton’s does for their community. By donating pizza to local runaway shelters, groups committed to fighting addiction, and inner-city schools—and with countless volunteering efforts—they make so much possible, for so many people. Built on the belief that their job is to make people happy every day—through food and generosity—Dayton’s is certainly delivering. Congratulations. 

2022 Great Pizza Give Back winners, owners standing in front of their pizza oven
Our 2022 Grand Prize Winner
Nelly’s Italian Café, Spring Hill, TN

Nelly’s gives back to many causes that benefit humans and hounds. They team up with the local animal shelter and place flyers of adoptable dogs on every pizza box—giving them more exposure so they can find new homes. Nelly’s also sponsors a multitude of groups, such as little league teams, cheer squads, and football and basketball teams. And they go the extra mile to feed the local children’s home every week. We salute you for your impressive efforts and spirit of giving, Nelly’s! 

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