Pizza delivery guy gets a mere $2 tip during snowstorm — then a cop stepped in and changed everything
Kindness is underrated. People often tend to focus on the bad things happening around the world, whether it's the state of our planet, to the fact that most of the population survives on bare necessities. Only a few act and bring change. However, that wasn't the case with Lieutenant Richard Craig (@officercraig), who helped a young man delivering pizza amidst a blizzard in Indiana. Craig realized that something had to be done. He instinctively filmed the delivery driver as he trudged through the snow, in his sweatshirt and joggers, with the pizza sack hanging on his arm. The officer posted the video to his TikTok, and soon it went viral, garnering 115,000 views.
Connor Stephanoff, 20, who worked for Rockstar Pizza in Brownsburg, was undeterred by the extreme weather on the day his life would change for the better. Walking up a snowy hill to deliver a pizza in a rather affluent neighborhood, Officer Craig spotted him working hard and struck up a conversation. Curious about the tip he received, Craig asked, “Look at his dude!... Did you get a good tip?” Stephanoff, seemingly annoyed, responded, “Two dollars.” In disbelief, Craig lashed out, “Are you kidding me? Man, cold-blooded! Two dollars! Look at this man,” he continued. “This man walked through hell and high water to deliver a pizza.”
As per People magazine, the delivery driver revealed that the meager $2 tip was for a total bill amount of $40 (not even 10% of the amount). In a follow-up video, Officer Craig stated that he was determined to help the young man and offered him whatever cash he had in his wallet– $15. However, he didn't stop there. The kind officer also set up a GoFundMe campaign for Stephanoff, hoping to raise $500. "Luckily, I had a little cash in my wallet that was in the truck! BUT HE DESERVES MUCH MORE. I just started his GoFundMe! Please share and encourage others to throw in if they can!! I want to try to get him a tip he deserves if we can!! Let’s go!” the creator captioned the post.
@officercraig $2 TIP SHOULD BE A CRIME! Whoever did this: #SHAMEFUL ROCKSTAR PIZZA HAS A ROCKSTAR DRIVER. (Brownsburg, IN.) This guy is a RARE breed. During today’s all day snowstorm, crashes and slideoffs were coming in near 30 calls an hour. This school bus had a minor crash. The bus slid backwards and sideways down a hill and gets stuck, blocking this neighborhood street, and making it completely impassable. The roads were so bad, it took us 20 min. to get 3-4 miles. THIS #DELIVERYDRIVER pulled up before officers arrived. The delivery was about 1/4 mile past where the bus was blocking the street. 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. He would not be discouraged by the obstacles he was encountering, which included a 1/2 mile hike round trip in the cold, wet snow. He parked his vehicle at the top of the hill, got out, wearing grey sweats, Nikes, and NO COAT nor GLOVES. He grabbed this #RockstarPizza, and took off hiking thru the very cold, and wet snow with the pizza in tow. It was the beginning of his shift at 4:30p on a Friday afternoon, BUT he was determined this family got their pizza. This is in a more affluent neighborhood, and I’m sure he thought he would be rewarded properly for his RARE display of PRIDE and DEDICATION to his work- that is often times not seen by some of his generation. But more so, he wanted to ensure this family got their pizza to their door! So they did not have to leave the confines of their warm, comfortable, AND VERY NICE home. He got my attention as I see him walking in the middle of street after he made the delivery. I said outloud “what does this guy think he is doing?” As I initially thought he was a neighbor coming to “rubberneck” the crash. The bus driver told me he walked by once and was delivering a pizza. I didn’t believe that fully because what young pizza delivery guy in 2025 would do this??? None that I know! Not believing it completely, I hit RECORD and ask this young man. I was dumbfounded and in disbelief when he confirmed. But most of all - I was impressed- AND STILL AM! I’m proud to witness this firsthand. But my excitement and pride quickly turned to frustration when I asked him about his tip. WHO TIPS A GUY WHO RISKS EVERYTHING TO DRIVE FOOD TO YOUR DOOR LIKE THIS?? Let alone, gets out to hike it to you while every road was nearly impassable! I REALLY HOPE this algorithm is good enough that whomever DID THIS, SEES THIS! You should be ashamed of yourself whoever u are!! SHAME ON YOU. A $40 pizza delivered and a $2 tip! EVERYONE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD CAN AFFORD IT. AND IF THEY CANT, STOP ORDERING PIZZA YOU CANT AFFORD! After processing he only received $2, and what I just witnessed, I reached for my own wallet. To PAY THE TIP FOR SOMEONE THAT PROBABLY MAKES DOUBLE MY SALARY. But I did not want this young man discouraged. Unfortunately my wallet was in my Tahoe, which was at the top of the big hill. I quickly as I could chased him down up the hill giving him the little cash I had in my wallet. (About $15) HE DESERVED MUCH MORE. Not sure who this guy is, BUT IF YOU DO, PLZ TAG HIM, SHOW HIM SOME ❤️❤️❤️ AND GIVE HIM THE RECOGNITION HE DESERVES! Well done sir.🫡#IncredibleWork #Rockstar #Brownsburg #Indiana #delivery #Driver #snow #PizzaGuy #pizza @Dave Portnoy #LifeLawAndFootball #dedicated #workethic @Pat McAfee Show Clips ♬ original sound - Officer Craig
As Craig panned the camera to show the affluent houses in the neighborhood, he asserted, “Look at these homes. It’s not like these people didn’t have the money to tip that young man. Absolutely insane. Do better, folks!” As the video went viral, netizens chimed in with similar experiences. “Used to deliver pizzas, and the trailer park was where the big tippers were,” shared @fosterb4, while @cjy_ox noted, “If the weather is bad and someone still delivering that to me means they are really needing the money, so I make sure to up the tip!” Meanwhile, a person (@capecodval) lauded, “You are a good man, officer!”
@officercraig Replying to @Brooklyn Johnson-Waterman Luckily I had a little cash in my wallet that was in the truck! BUT HE DESERVES MUCH MORE. I just started his GoFundMe! Please share and encourage others to throw in if they can!! I want to try to get him a tip he deserves -if we can!! Let’s go! https://gofund.me/2d6f19ec. #OfficerCraig #RockStarPizzaBrownsburg #PizzaDeliveryDriver #RockstarDriver #GoFundMe #fyp #foryou #LifeLawAndFootball ♬ original sound - Officer Craig
In an interview with TODAY, Officer Craig expressed his admiration for the young man. He said, “If I could raise $500 for this kid, that’s enough to make me forget some of the bad things that people had done, you know?” To his surprise, the next morning, he woke up to $1,500 worth of donations for Stephanoff. Within three weeks, the number had swelled up to a whopping $41,000 from about 2,000 donations.
You can follow @officercraig on TikTok for more heartwarming stories.