John Arena is a lifelong pizza maker, mentor, and community builder whose passion for food has always been about more than what’s on the plate. As a third-generation pizza professional and respected leader in the pizza world, John has spent decades teaching, competing, and bringing people together through the craft he loves.

After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, John saw firsthand how meaningful, hands-on cooking could be—not just as a skill, but as a way to encourage movement, confidence, and connection. What began as a personal journey became a larger mission: using pizza making as a tool to support others facing similar challenges.

That vision became the John Arena Foundation.

Through pizza-making classes and fundraising dinners hosted by chefs and restaurants in their own communities, the Foundation empowers people living with Parkinson’s and movement disorders to stay engaged, active, and connected. John’s belief is simple: when people come together around food, real impact happens.

John continues to inspire chefs, pizza makers, and communities across the country to step into the corner, share their craft, and help others go another round—one class, one dinner, and one community at a time.