Pizzerias band together, raise funds for family of late Nassau Officer Patricia Espinosa

Hundreds of Long Island pizzerias have signed up to raise money for the husband and toddler of Patricia Espinosa, the Nassau County police officer who was killed last month by a driver who prosecutors allege was drunk.

It’s the fourth such fundraiser organized by the charity group LI Pizza Strong, which generated a combined $388,700 during its previous three campaigns, according to the movement’s co-founder Alyssa Guidice.

Espinosa, 42, died the morning of Jan. 31 in Lake Grove when, while on her way to work, her car was struck by a driver who ran a red light on Route 347, near Smith Haven Mall, police said. She is survived by her husband, Francisco Malaga, who is also a Nassau police officer, and 2-year-old daughter, Mia.

LI Pizza Strong launched its current campaign after Espinosa’s funeral last week. As of Wednesday afternoon, more than 250 pizzerias from Wantagh to Montauk had signed up to donate $5 to Espinosa’s family for every pizza they sell on Feb. 25.

“Everybody just wants to show that they care,” said Guidice, who runs a Facebook page for Long Island restaurants called Dine-LI. “As long as we’re helping and we can prove to Francisco, and Patty up in heaven, that we’re making a difference in their honor, then that’s what matters.”

Guidice launched LI Pizza Strong in October 2023 with Serpico’s Bread Co. food truck owner Jim Serpico, and Anthony Laurino, the owner of Phil's Pizzeria & Restaurant in Syosset.

That first effort sought to help the victims of the Farmingdale High School band charter bus crash, which killed two educators and injured more than 40 students that September.

“My son was on one of the buses that was involved in the accident,” Laurino told Newsday, adding that his son was not injured. “We decided to … bring some pizzerias together and raise some money for the marching band.”

That campaign generated $102,200 for the victims from the 143 pizzerias that ultimately participated.

LI Pizza Strong launched two campaigns in 2024: one for NYPD Det. Jonathan Diller, who was shot and killed while working in Queens, and another to support the victims of a car crash in Babylon that killed multiple teenagers. The latter generated $105,000 across 199 locations, while the former generated $181,500 with 257 participating stores.

Mike Corteo, the owner of Umberto's Restaurant & Pizzeria in Wantagh, has participated in all of LI Pizza Strong’s fundraisers. His location was one of the first to sign on to the most recent effort.

“The community gives so much to us. So, when something happens, when tragedy strikes, we all have to get together and give back,” Corteo told Newsday.

LI Pizza Strong posts updated lists of participating pizzerias on its Instagram page. Delivery or takeout orders from those restaurants will generate money for Espinosa’s family, according to Guidice, who said it was not yet clear whether orders on third-party apps would apply.

LI Pizza Strong does not have a specific fundraising goal, but Laurino said he expects the Espinosa fundraiser to draw the largest number of participants of any campaign to date.

Restaurants can sign up to participate on the LI Pizza Strong website, lipizzastrong.com. Guidice called Feb. 22 “a preferred deadline” and expects to allow participants to sign up closer to the day of the fundraiser.

“I’m sure people are going to text me on Tuesday [Feb. 24] and ask me if they can participate — and I’ll let them,” she said.