About The Pizza Project

The Pizza Project's Origins

Founded in 2019, The Pizza Project was a student-run organization and later, a recognized club, that aimed to help promote positivity, make resources easily accessible, and break the stigma around mental health at Franklin & Marshall College. The Pizza Project's mission was to educate students at Franklin & Marshall College about mental health and to help them access resources on campus, in the Lancaster community, and online while sharing free pizza purchased from small, local pizzerias with students.

The Pizza Project was founded by F&M alumna, Braden Renke, who wanted to make a change in her community after losing her father to suicide in 2018. Braden worked hard to make The Pizza Project a recognized organization at F&M with the help of her family, friends (especially Aryan Parekh and Brynne Rockovits), and her mentors and she is incredibly grateful for all of the support.

While The Pizza Project is no longer an active club at F&M, Braden is excited to announce its nonprofit status and its reach at George Washington University's School of Nursing. Braden hopes to tap into more high school and college campuses across the United States and potentially bring resources to US military bases as well.

The Pizza Project's Franklin & Marshall Chapter

Previous Events at F&M:

Among many "Pizza Giveaways" throughout our time at F&M, The Pizza Project also hosted and/ or contributed to the following events:

The Hidden Opponent Fundraiser with F&M Softball and Rosa Rosa Pizzeria - 4/28/22
F&M Senior Sunset with the 2022 Senior Class Cabinet - 4/28/22 (Donated Pizza from Rosa Rosa Pizzeria)
Guest of F&M Hillel's "Wellness Shabbat" - 3/4/22
A Promoter of the "Help Ukraine Bake Sale" - 2/28/22
Care Packages to the Military and FEMA Hurricane Relief Donations - 8/31/21
Hosted "A Hike with The Pizza Project" at Baker Campus - 4/7/21
Athlete Mental Health Panel - 2/24/21 - RECORDING HERE

Our featured speakers were former NCAA D1 Gymnast, TED Talk Speaker, and Towson University alumna, Olivia Lubarsky, and F&M Squash Coach, and former Professional Welch Squash athlete, Gavin Jones.

- - Olivia Lubarsky Contact Information: oliviamlubarsky@gmail.com
  - Gavin Jones Contact Information: gjones1@fandm.edu
Hosted the "Holiday Charity Fund for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention" - 12/20/20

The Pizza Project's Franklin & Marshall Chapter is currently inactive. Are you a student at F&M that is interested in restarting The Pizza Project? Contact OSEL today!

Founding Executive Board 2020 - 2021

President and Founder: Braden Renke '22

Vice President: Aryan Parekh '22

Treasurer: David Cazares '22

Secretary and Event Planner: Sammi Perry '23

Research Analyst: Brynne Rockovits '23

Assistant Research Analyst: Emma Riggs '24

Executive Board 2021 - 2022

President and Founder: Braden Renke '22

Vice President: Aryan Parekh '22

Treasurer: Iman Jaikishan '24

Secretary and Event Planner: Sammi Perry '23

Research Analyst: Brynne Rockovits '23

Assistant Research Analyst: Emma Riggs '24

Executive Board 2022 - 2021

President: Brynne Rockovits '23

Vice President: Iman Jaikishan '24

Treasurer: Sammi Perry '23

Secretary: Emma Riggs '24

The Pizza Project's First Member Meeting in 2020

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