14 newportbeachindy . com OCTOBER 28 , 2022
CHARITY SPOTLIGHT
Sgt . Pepperoni ’ s Pizza Store Raises $ 45K for Julian ’ s Lego Corner at CHOC
The Sgt . Pepperoni ’ s Pizza team delivers a check and Lego toys to CHOC .
By Christopher Trela | NB Indy
Julian Dunn loved LEGO products . They helped Julian take his mind off his treatments for brain cancer , a diagnosis Julian received when he was in kindergarten .
Julian attended Mariners Elementary School , as did neighbor Lauren Roberts . When she learned that Julian was battling brain cancer , five-yearold Lauren asked her parents to help her open a lemonade stand in support of her friend .
They set her up on Balboa Island with her sister , Ashley . They raised over $ 1,000 . The next day we presented the money to Julian ’ s parents , Rich and Andrea .
Julian lost his cancer battle when he was in the third grade , but his parents honored the memory of their son by creating Julian ’ s LEGO Corner , a fund at Children ’ s Health Orange County ( CHOC ) where Julian had undergone his treatments . The fund provides new LEGO sets for hospitalized patients to play with while receiving care , with a particular focus on children in the oncology unit and those with other serious conditions .
After Jeff Roberts and three fellow Newport Beach natives acquired Sgt . Pepperoni ’ s Pizza in 2013 , they began fundraising for Julian ’ s LEGO Corner through sales of pizza , and sales of Sweet Things for a Sweet Cause , a line of desserts cooked up by Lauren Roberts and sold at the Sgt . Pepperoni ’ s pizza store on Bristol Street in Newport Beach , and now at the two newer locations in Irvine and Aliso Viejo .
Until this year , Sgt . Pepperoni ’ s had raised a total of $ 100,000 for Julian ’ s LEGO Corner .
In recognition of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September , Sgt . Pepperoni ’ s Pizza Store held their annual Julian ’ s LEGO Corner campaign . The results are in , and thanks to generous customers and corporate donors , you can add $ 45,000 and nearly 130 Lego kits collected for the cause .
“ We are grateful and very humbled to stand beside Julian ’ s parents , who have shown so much strength and love ,” said Jeff Roberts . “ We celebrate their friendship and want to go above and beyond to help all the kids receiving treatment at CHOC .”
“ We are grateful to everyone who is supporting this effort , as we know that LEGO sets are the No . 1 requested item of children who are hospitalized ,” said Andrea Dunn .
“ What started as a small lemonade stand on Balboa Island has grown into a campaign that fills our hearts ,” Jeff Roberts adds . “ Today , the four owner families of Sgt . Pepperoni ’ s and over 100 employee team members carry on Julian ’ s legacy .”
For more information , visit the website at sgtpepps . com .
Wine & Food
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tomato cookies was a tomato jelly surrounded by labneh and toasted bread crumbs .
FARMHOUSE : An Orange County staple , Farmhouse at Roger ’ s Gardens is known for it ’ s holistic use of locally sourced ingredients . They debuted a delicious blue corn tostada topped with shrimp , roasted cauliflower , and a house-made salsa . The tostada perfectly captured southern California ’ s incoming fall produce .
Other noteworthy experiences at the event included the return of the Silent Disco hosted by Celebrity Cruises , live music , a DJ , wines from numerous purveyors including Justin , spirits from Maker ’ s Mark , Grey Goose and Bacardi , and samples from local breweries .
For more information on the 2022 Pacific Wine and Food Classic and advance notice on next year ’ s event , please visit www . pacificwineandfood . com .
Justin Winery was on site pouring their premium wines / photo by Chris Trela
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