BRACKENRIDGE, Pa. — Maddio's Pizza and Subs in Brackenridge has been helping local families raise money for their children’s medical treatments for four years.
The owner said this year, someone is using his name and mission to try to profit off the community’s generosity.
The pizza shop’s Operation Santa Clause this year aims to help Sydney Brison, who was diagnosed with leukemia in 2009 when she was 3 years old. After three battles in the last seven years, Sydney was admitted to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh in November with a lung infection and pneumonia.
Matt Struhar, Maddio's owner, said he knew his team needed to do something to help.
“Both of her parents had to quit work so they could be bedside with her at Children’s,” he said.
Struhar said Wednesday night he learned that someone was taking advantage of his efforts to raise money for Sydney’s family. He said a customer alerted him to someone going door-to-door claiming he worked at Maddio's and was collecting money for Sydney.
“They asked for ID. He couldn't provide any. They asked him to wait a minute (and said) they were going to go get some money when in all actuality, they were going to get a camera to take a picture of him,” Struhar said.
Struhar said only he collects the money in person. A donation jar also sits on the counter at the shop and customers have the option to add a donation when placing an order.
“It hurt me very badly that someone was using my name and our pizza shop, which we do so much, to go around and collect money for themselves,” Struhar said.
He said while Sydney continues her fight in the hospital, he hopes that the scammer hasn’t perturbed people from donating.
“I'm hoping didn't spread too far, and I don't want it to give us a bad name and ruin fundraising efforts for our family,” Struhar said.
Police did not reveal any details about a possible suspect, but said they are investigating.