Pizza Shop Owner Awarded Peabody Nonprofit's 2023 Champion Award

PEABODY, MA — A Middleton pizza shop owner was honored with the 2023 Champion Award from Peabody nonprofit Bridgewell for providing jobs and training for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Bridgewell said that Matthew Rosa was chosen as this year's recipient for supporting the its employment program and paying a fair wage to employees with intellectual and developmental disabilities to help them become valued and appreciated members of the workforce.

Rosa is the seventh recipient of the honor since it was established in 2014.

"People like Rosa and places like Captain Pizza are champions because they recognize the potential in individuals with disabilities and give them the chance to work," Bridgewell President and CEO Christopher Tuttle said. "What they quickly find out is that they have hired some of the most loyal, dedicated, capable workers around."

Up to 10 people from Bridgewell's community-based supported employment program are trained and work at the restaurant in rotation with the help of a job coach. They are ServSafe certified and work in all aspects of the establishment, including food and meal prep and customer-facing positions.

"Bridgewell's Employment Support program works with community business partners to match individuals with jobs they are interested in, like those in the restaurant industry," said Darren Goad, Bridgewell's Director of Employment and Community-Based Day Supports. "What really sets Captain Pizza apart is that Rosa has our individuals working side-by-side with other employees in the kitchen and behind the counter.

"This business exemplifies inclusion."

Businesses interested in partnering with Bridgewell and employing those with disabilities can contact Goad at dgoad@bridgewell.org or 339-883-1757.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)