News12 Long Island, May 19, 2024
The widow of late NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller received on Sunday the money that pizzerias collected in their Long Island Pizza Strong fundraiser.
More than 200 pizzerias banded together in the effort back in April.
“It’s truly amazing to see how much good there is in the world,” said Stephanie Diller.
When her husband was killed on the job in March, many stepped up to help.
“When a tragedy like this happens, people want to give back and we helped provide a way to give back,” said Long Island Pizza Strong co-organizer Jim Serpico.
Phil’s Pizza in Syosset spearheaded what would become a massive fundraiser in which $5 from every pie sold on April 17 was donated to the Diller family, Silver Shiled Foundation, Project Thank A Cop and Beyond the Badge New York by the participating restaurants.
A check from that fundraiser for $181,550 was presented to Stephanie Diller.
“I can’t even put into words how thankful I am to everybody,” she said.
Organizers said pizza boxes from the Long Island Pizza Strong fundraiser were distributed throughout the entire country in a nationwide movement to support a local hero.
“We’ll forever love Long Island, this community, and appreciate it and never forget Jonathan and all the kind things that everybody did for us, and we hope as a family that we can give back,” Stephanie Diller added.
