For Daniel Siragusa, playing his part in the family business has been something of a round-trip. The owner/operator of Mario The Baker started his work with the restaurant in 2001 at the ripe age of 17, just a year after his father had purchased the longstanding North Miami favorite. Just 3 years later, he was off to Biloxi, Mississippi, managing a new Mario The Baker location. Siragusa was content to stay, but Hurricane Katrina had other plans. “The restaurant was destroyed,” he remembers. The result? Siragusa was brought back to Miami to open the business’s new Downtown/Brickell location. Today, he and his team work to make sure the restaurant keeps producing the same quality pizza and Italian/American cuisine they’ve become famous for…but with changing times come a few new twists. “No one was asking for whole-wheat pizza in the ‘70s and ‘80s, but we gotta offer it now,” he quips; 43 W. Flagler St., Miami; 786.316.0166; MarioTheBakerPizza.com.
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Philanthropic Champions
Giving back is essential for building stronger communities, fostering empathy and inspiring the next generation. It cultivates a sense of responsibility and creates opportunities for those in need. Ultimately, it enriches both the giver and the receiver in ways that only those who experience altruism for themselves can understand.
Home Away From Home
Supporting health and wellness through lodging, meals, activities and a community of care for critically ill children and their families who need to be near a hospital for treatment, Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida.
