The mission of The Van Duzer Foundation is to assist families and individuals in St. Lucie County Florida, who are experiencing financial and personal hardship brought about by unforeseen crisis or tragedy.
Port St. Lucie’s Scott Van Duzer, owner of Big Apple Pizza, has turned his restaurant into a hub for community impact. Through his Read to Succeed program, kids receive free books and pizza every Wednesday night—while 50% of sales go back to local schools.
With help from Scholastic, Children’s Services Council, and Pepsi, more than 20,000 books have been distributed, boosting reading scores and transforming Big Apple’s slowest night into its busiest.
Van Duzer’s foundation also supports families in need and organizes blood drives. Now he’s sharing his blueprint with pizzerias nationwide, proving that giving back isn’t just good for the community—it’s good for business.
Nonprofit Organization Receives Statewide Recognition
The Van Duzer Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting St. Lucie County families, recently received the Commissioner’s Business Recognition Award for its innovative Read to Succeed program. This initiative encourages student literacy by offering free books and pizza rewards for completed book summaries. Additionally, the nonprofit organization provides financial incentives to participating schools.
In its debut year, the program achieved remarkable success, with Fairlawn Elementary reaching 100% participation. As a result, the foundation is expanding Read to Succeed for the 2024-2025 school year, further demonstrating its commitment to community education and support. Learn more about this impactful nonprofit organization’s work on the Treasure Coast Business website.
As a leading Nonprofit Organization in St. Lucie County, the Van Duzer Foundation is dedicated to helping families overcome unexpected hardships. Our nonprofit organization provides immediate financial assistance and fosters long-term community support. Through innovative programs like Read to Succeed, we create lasting positive impacts on education and family well-being in our area, embodying the true spirit of a community-focused nonprofit organization.
For more than 15 years, the Van Duzer Foundation has found innovative ways to make a positive difference in our community. As a nonprofit, we’ve proudly raised and donated over $1 million to help St. Lucie County residents in need, reflecting our strong dedication to local support and community growth.
The Humane Society of St. Lucie County launched the “Opie Project,” a creative initiative that partners with local restaurants to promote pet adoption. By attaching flyers of adoptable animals to takeout orders, the program helps connect shelter pets with potential families in a simple but impactful way. Named after Opie, a longtime shelter dog who…
Scott Van Duzer: Serving Pizza, Books, and Hope Port St. Lucie’s Scott Van Duzer, owner of Big Apple Pizza, has turned his restaurant into a hub for community impact. Through his Read to Succeed program, kids receive free books and pizza every Wednesday night—while 50% of sales go back to local schools. With help from Scholastic, Children’s Services Council, and Pepsi, more than 20,000 books have…
Rio’s Rescue Fundraiser Date & Time:Wednesday, October 8, from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Location:Big Apple Pizza & Pasta2311 S. 35th St., Fort Pierce, FL (across from IRSC) Purpose:This fundraiser supports Rio Ratermanis, a dedicated ER nurse and Professional Development Facility Clinical Educator at HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital. Rio has spent her career helping…
Read To Succeed Scott Van Duzer’s “Read to Succeed” program has made a significant impact on promoting literacy among students in St. Lucie County. In its inaugural year, the program achieved remarkable success, with Fairlawn Elementary School reaching 100% participation. This accomplishment led to the program’s expansion for the 2024-2025 school year. The initiative has…
Come to Big Apple, have a slice of pizza, help support Dan Toback in his quest to be the guest Spelling Bee Judge, and help support the Humane Society of St. Lucie County Dan is our man! And August 14th, he can be yours, too! Local animal advocate and villager, Dan Toback with Slcscanner, is…
Big Apple Pizza Supports Literacy with “If You Give a Child a Book” Campaign Big Apple Pizza in Fort Pierce, led by Scott Van Duzer, is actively contributing to the community by supporting literacy initiatives for children. The restaurant is involved in the “If You Give a Child a Book” campaign, which aims to provide…
Empowering St. Lucie County: Immediate Help, Lasting Impact
