The American Heart Association always has been close to, well, Dom DeFelice’s heart, and that is one reason why DeFelice Brothers Pizza has hosted its heart-shaped fundraiser each year since 1982.
But since enduring and recovering from bypass surgery two years ago while vacationing in Florida, DeFelice has come to appreciate the annual three-day event even more. The 40-year tradition has raised thousands of dollars, including a combined $3,000 from nine locations last year, and this year those ultra-popular 12-inch pies will be available Feb. 12-14.
DeFelice Bros. donates $1 per pizza solid during the three days.
“We started this fundraiser and awareness campaign when we first opened our first location in Shadyside, and now, full circle, it means so much more because of my experiences,” explained co-founder Dom DeFelice. “I’ve always known what the American Heart Association does, but when it hits home like it did for me, you come to appreciate their message much more.
“The association does so much research because all they want to do is send that message and that information to as many people as possible. They do that so more and more people can live happy and healthy lives,” the co-founder said. “It’s a tremendous organization and my family has known that for years, so when this time of year comes around, we do everything we can to reach as many people as possible.”
The American Heart Association was founded by six cardiologists in 1924, and through those years the organization has funded 14 Nobel Prize winners and has been responsible for a plethora of life-saving techniques and procedures. The AHA has 35 million volunteers and 2,900 employees, and the non-profit has been able to donate more than $5 billion to medical research since 1949.
“The American Heart Association is one of the few organizations where most of the raised money goes to the research and to spreading the message,” DeFelice said. “We’ve learned a lot about the organization and what they do, and that’s why this is our 40th year. It’s a great partnership that reaches a lot of people in the area.
“Our franchise owners are into it and they look forward to it each year because they know how important the message is, too,” he continued. “We all work really hard every day to put out a quality product, but when it’s time to make the heart-shaped pizzas, they’re some of the most dedicated people I’ve ever known. It’s because of them that it’s worked for 40 years. It’s held the test of time just like our pizza.”
Lauren Thomas serves as the development director for the AHA, and she expressed her appreciation for DeFelice’s support during a Monday press conference to announce the return of the Valentine’s Day favorite.
“This fundraiser is beyond important to us at the American Heart Association because we’ve been working with DeFelice Brothers Pizza for such a long time, and it’s always been incredible to see the community come out and support this every single year,” Thomas explained. “The impact is tremendous because it’s not only about raising the funds, but also raising awareness about heart health.
“Because this effort by Dom and his franchisees gets so much media attention throughout the Upper Ohio Valley, we are able to spread our message and be confident that residents in this region are hearing it,” she said. “With February being National Heart Month, we know how much we benefit from DeFelice’s heart-shaped pizzas, and we are so thankful for all the of hard work by the owners and their employees.”
