In the midst of a severe snowstorm in Brownsburg, Indiana, a pizza delivery driver named Connor Stephanoff demonstrated an extraordinary level of dedication to his job. Stephanoff, an employee of Rock Star Pizza, was forced to abandon his vehicle and walk half a mile through the storm to deliver a pizza order after a school bus accident blocked his route. Despite the affluent neighborhood and the extreme weather conditions, Stephanoff received a meager tip of just $2.15 for his efforts.
The incident was captured on video by Lieutenant Richard Craig of the Avon Police Department, who was assisting residents in navigating the hazardous road conditions. Craig noticed Stephanoff trudging through the snow-filled street and advised him to use the sidewalk for safety. Stephanoff explained that he had to walk through the snow to deliver a $40 pizza order. When asked about the tip he received, Stephanoff revealed the disappointing amount.
Craig expressed shock and dismay at the paltry tip given to Stephanoff, especially considering the affluent neighborhood and the challenging weather conditions. He praised Stephanoff’s work ethic and dedication, expressing disgust that a customer would tip so little under such circumstances. Craig’s video caption read, “This young man did not allow this to discourage him. He didn’t call his manager to complain, he didn’t call the customer and tell them their $40 pizza order could not be delivered. Oh no. THIS MAN IS BUILT DIFFERENT.”
In a show of support, Craig gave Stephanoff $15 and set up a GoFundMe page with an initial goal of raising $500. The fundraiser has since exceeded expectations, raising over $16,000 as of Saturday morning.
Rock Star Pizza acknowledged Stephanoff’s dedication in a Facebook post, stating, “We’ve gone over & above what anyone could ever ask of us, and the effort wasn’t appreciated. If not for Officer Craig, this would have just been another delivery shift for Connor.” The restaurant also noted that they had given employees the option to stay home during the storm, but Stephanoff chose to work.
Stephanoff’s commitment to his job was summed up in his own words to WRTV: “Any condition, anytime, anywhere. You will get your pizza.”