Soroptimist International of Dixon partnered with Pizza Guys for a community fundraiser held Jan. 12, with a portion of sales donated to support local programs. Photo courtesy of Soroptimist International of Dixon

DIXON, CA (MPG) - Soroptimist International of Dixon partnered with Pizza Guys for a community fundraiser held Jan. 12, with a portion of sales donated to support local programs.

The fundraiser took place at Pizza Guys, 1455 Ary Lane, where customers were encouraged to mention Soroptimist International of Dixon when placing their orders. Proceeds from qualifying sales will be directed to the organization to fund high school scholarships.

Barbara Rigdon, president of Soroptimist International of Dixon, said the partnership developed as the club sought simple, accessible fundraising opportunities.

“It was fairly simple,” said Rigdon. “We plan fundraisers and events annually, but we knew a couple wouldn’t come to fruition, so we had to think of something to do that would be easy.”

According to Rigdon, two Soroptimist members, Linda Green and Linda Glantz, learned about Pizza Guys’ involvement in community support and reached out to the restaurant’s manager and owner, Ashley Rafterty.

“They contacted the manager and she was so excited to help out,” said Rigdon. “It’s the first time we’ve ever done this, so maybe this is something we can do more often.”

According to Rigdon, all funds raised through the Pizza Guys fundraiser will be used specifically for high school scholarships, a key focus of the organization’s mission to support young women through education.

Rigdon emphasized the importance of partnerships with local businesses, noting that nonprofits often compete for limited community resources.

“Soroptimist realizes that the businesses in Dixon can be over-asked to give, so Soroptimist tries to minimize that ask,” she said. “We try to ask businesses once for donations a year.”

According to Rigdon, fundraisers like the Pizza Guys event provide a way to raise money while also increasing awareness.

“Having a fundraiser like this is so important because it lets people know about Soroptimist and what we do for the community,” said Rigdon. “It also builds the image of the business to show how community-minded they are. All anyone has to do is order a pizza and mention Soroptimist of Dixon.”

Looking ahead, Rigdon said the organization is open to future collaborations, though no additional business partnerships have been confirmed. She noted the group’s third annual Art Uncorked fundraiser is scheduled for Feb. 21, during which Soroptimist will receive a percentage of sales from the event.

Soroptimist International of Dixon meets every Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. at Dixon United Methodist Church, 209 N. Jefferson St. Community members interested in learning more or joining the organization are invited to attend.

For more information, visit Soroptimist International of Dixon, CA on Facebook or email [email protected].