Presenting the 2010 Small Business of the Year Award for the 54th District is Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal (center) with recipients Frank Buono (left) and Andrew Buono (right) of Buono's Authentic Pizzeria.
(June 2010) Buono's Authentic Pizzeria, a family owned business with restaurants in Long Beach and San Pedro, was recently recognized as the 2010 Small Business of the Year in the 54th District. The award was presented by Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal during California Small Business Day in Sacramento amidst an audience of legislators, key community leaders, and other statewide honorees. During the festivities, brothers Frank and Andrew Buono met with government officials and participated in small business workshops and discussions.
"Buono's has been a real community leader in Long Beach and San Pedro," said Assemblymember Lowenthal. "Not only have they brought their family's traditions from Italy but they've created some very special traditions here in our communities like doing their poetry contest for over a decade – it really inspires our local students."
California Small Business Association (CSBA) President Betty Jo Toccoli was pleased to learn of this year's recipient in the 54th District. "Thank you Buono's for your contributions to the small business community, your local communities, and the state of California. You are very deserving of this momentous recognition."
Since Buono's believes that good citizenship starts early, the award recognized the restaurant's longtime partnership with nearly 40 elementary schools. Buono's hosts pizza parties on school campuses, supports numerous school fundraisers, and just held its 12th Annual School Poetry Contest that attracts entries from thousands of 3rd through 5th and 10th graders. Each year the restaurant donates at least 3,000 pizzas and thousands of dollars and volunteer hours to many worthy causes. They also supply gift certificates to schools for use as reading incentives, good attendance, and other student achievements.
Buono's involvement in community leadership was also applauded. Frank Buono, the General Manager and Owner of the restaurant, has donated numerous hours of his personal time over the years to serve on neighborhood boards, city commissions, and charitable foundations. Currently he is the Board President of the California Aquatic Therapy and Wellness Center. Along with the Wrigley Village Business Association (WVBA), he was instrumental in spearheading a facade improvement program to create a uniformed look for a particular business area and improve the overall look of business corridors. The city of Long Beach has since used this pilot program as a model for future projects.
"Giving back to the communities we do business in is as important to us as succeeding in business. So it is a great honor to be acknowledged for our commitment to the community," noted Frank Buono.
From its very beginning in 1973, Buono's has sponsored sports teams and reached out in times of crisis. During the Los Angeles riots sparked by the Rodney King verdict, Buono's fed the Long Beach Firefighters who were battling a burning Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) building. In the wake of the September 11, 2001 bombings, Buono's donated pizza to the San Pedro firefighters' station to be used at a fundraiser for families who had lost loved ones battling the inferno in New York.
Among past awards received, the Buono's family earned the Pride of Partnership and Hero Awards for their leadership and was featured as a People's Choice Award recipient for the restaurant's authentic Italian cuisine.
The Small Business Association's 2010 California Small Business Day brings together small business leaders from across the state to celebrate civic duty, recognize best practices and role models within business, and honor the hard work of today's small business leaders. Each year legislators honor a small business in their district.
The 54th District, from which Buono's was selected, is one of 80 assembly districts in California. The district currently consists of a small portion of Los Angeles County and includes San Clemente and Santa Catalina Islands (Avalon), the Palos Verdes Peninsula (Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, and Rolling Hills Estates), all of Signal Hill, a little more than half of Long Beach, and a small area of Los Angeles.
