Pizza Factory CEO: Friendship stops bullying

BONNERS FERRY — On April 12, the CEO of Pizza Factory, Mary Jane Riva, visited Bonners Ferry and made an anti-bullying presentation at Valley View Elementary School.

With Pizza Factory’s slogan “We toss ’em. They’re awesome,” the company has made their mark in many communities by not only providing quality food, but support for the local communities that they occupy, including the Bonners Ferry branch, owned by Greg Kissee and D.J. Cartwright.

Whether or not someone has attended public school, everyone has been subjected to criticism, bullying, and various forms of ridicule. With the internet a big part of many peoples’ lives, social media has become a staple in everyday activities, and with that, bullying became not only about kids in school, but extended to adults as well.

The initial question was, how to curb bullying of any kind at an early stage, so Riva utilized the Pizza Factory slogan and franchise to send a message to kids about ways to stop bullies. They created a presentation complete with a video that helps kids learn what to say and do when they see someone being bullied.

In the cartoon video of a dog detective, the message was to ‘stop, talk, and walk.’ This message teaches the kids to indicate through both gestures and words, in order to discontinue the confrontation, and leave the situation by walking away. If the confrontation persists, they are shown to follow up by talking to a supervisor or adult about the situation.

To support making friends, the Bonners Ferry branch of The Pizza Factory donated a friendship bench to the Valley View Elementary School, which may encourage the students to reach out, get to know one another, and build friendships with all of their peers.

“Our message about friendship and inclusion is simple to understand, but it’s something that needs to be reinforced and discussed,” said Riva. “We want to do our part to end bullying, and we’re receiving tremendous support and feedback from the communities we visit. Peer support is a critical factor in combating bullying and fostering kindness to create a true school community.”

With roughly 30 percent of kids reporting bullying to a supervisor or adult, and about 70 percent of students saying they witnessed bullying in the U.S., these lessons are targeted to the students in order for them to help their peers battle bullying. When there is someone to step up and say something, the chances of bullying drop dramatically.

“The no bully zone is a big priority for the Pizza Factory franchise, so when we were informed of the anti-bullying curriculum, we decided to present what we had to the school,” said D.J. Cartwright. “We are really involved in the schools.”

They not only donated the friendship bench, but the whole fourth grade class was given bracelets and T-shirts. The students also have a chance to earn pizza parties by memorizing the anti-bullying poster located on the wall near the counselors office, along with other end of the program rewards.

“Pizza Factory a staple in many communities, so we’re always looking for ways to connect with our neighbors and give back,” said Riva. “The Buddy Bench program grew out of the “No Bully Zone” initiative we practice at Pizza Factory, where employees and guests can come to foster friendships. The Buddy Bench presentations allow us to further reach children in the neighborhoods we serve and express the importance of inclusiveness and kindness.”

With a place for friendships to blossom, the new bench will bring classmates together as friends as well as community members.