Florida Pizza Shop Raises $8,800 for Homeless Programs

When Bronx House Pizza announced a fundraiser dinner for homeless services, tickets sold out so fast the restaurant had to turn people away at the door.

The popular pizza joint in Palencia, Florida raised $8,800 Tuesday night for St. Francis House and Port in the Storm, two St. Augustine programs serving people experiencing homelessness. The restaurant donated 100% of the proceeds, keeping nothing for themselves.

Founder Bruno DiFabio and his team spent weeks planning the event, creating an elaborate six-course tasting menu that took diners on a culinary journey around the world. The packed house devoured every course, supporting a cause that directly impacts their community.

"We sold out like that," DiFabio said. "Everybody came out and supported, and the people loved it."

The evening was part of Bronx House's "Supper Club Series," which partners with local nonprofits to raise money while challenging other businesses to follow suit. DiFabio and co-founder Mike Bennici have grown their brand from a single Ormond Beach location in 2019 to 14 restaurants across Northeast Florida.

The Ripple Effect

The team didn't call it a night when the last plate was cleared. Around 10 p.m., they packed up all the remaining food and drove it straight to St. Francis House along with the $8,800 raised.

St. Francis House provides emergency shelter and services to adults and families experiencing homelessness. Port in the Storm focuses specifically on homeless and unaccompanied young adults ages 18 to 24, offering everything from emergency shelter and meals to job training and help securing permanent housing.

Both programs are operated by the nonprofit St. Augustine Society, which relies on community support to keep its doors open. The nearly $9,000 raised in one evening can provide dozens of nights of shelter, hundreds of meals, and critical services that help people transition off the streets.

"We're really laying down the gauntlet and challenging other people to come out and do this because it's such a great cause and it's so worth it," a team member said. "Filling somebody else's cup is why we do this."

When local businesses step up like this, they prove that one night of generosity can create lasting change for the most vulnerable in the community.