Kannapolis, North Carolina – Pizza chain Corner Crust has thrown its weight behind a national campaign this month, aiming to raise funds for childhood cancer research and family support. They're selling slices in special boxes at their Kannapolis and Concord outlets. This initiative, running through September, aligns with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and National Cheese Pizza Month.
Eight pizzerias across the nation are part of the “Taking a Slice Out of Cancer” campaign, which is part of the “Pizza for Good” initiative by the national pizza box company Pizza Bib. Among them, Corner Crust stands out as North Carolina’s sole representative in the program.
For every slice sold in these commemorative pizza boxes, which cleverly double as bibs, Corner Crust donates $0.43. On top of that, additional contributions are made. Customers can also choose to round up their purchase total to further support the cause.
Hector Zumaeta, who owns Corner Crust, stressed the tangible impact these donations can have on families dealing with childhood cancer. He spoke about the tough choices parents face when their child is diagnosed with cancer.
“Seeing someone that has cancer at eight months old, a year old, you’re seeing families that are tossed up between being with their kid in the hospital or having to go to work and pay the bills. If there’s a way to, one, finance more research and, two, support those families through the process because emotionally it’s awful but financially it’s awful, too, ” Zumaeta said.
The funds raised will benefit the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation (NPCF), an organization focused on assisting families impacted by childhood cancer. According to NPCF, about 43 children in the United States receive a cancer diagnosis every day.
Dawn Zachman, NPCF Chief Growth and Impact Officer, highlighted the critical role of community involvement in funding vital research.
“No parent should ever have to hear the words ‘your child has cancer, ’ but every day, 43 families do. This partnership with Pizza Bib turns something as small as a pizza order into something that matters: funding for research that gives kids a real shot at a better outcome. We are grateful to every pizzeria and every customer who takes part, ” Zachman stated.
Zumaeta, who has long admired Pizza Bib boxes from his years in the pizza business, expressed excitement about the partnership. He mentioned that the specialized pizza boxes have been a hit with customers.
“The response has been huge. I can’t believe it. It’s been really exciting to see the feedback, and we only launched this a few days ago, ” Zumaeta said on Sunday, September 6, 2026.
In the coming months, Corner Crust will also receive a permanent Pizza Bib box featuring a custom design, a project Zumaeta has been working on with the company. This will make it the first restaurant to feature such a custom box.
While this current initiative wraps up at the end of September, Zumaeta is hopeful it can become an annual tradition. People interested in contributing can also donate directly through the website pizzaforgood.
