Antonino’s Original Pizza Launches Heart-Shaped Pizza Fundraiser to Support Local Cardiac Program
Antonino’s Original Pizza is giving people another reason to buy a pizza. For the month of February, $1 from every small, medium or large heart-shaped pizza sold at its three locations in Windsor-Essex will support the cardiac program at Windsor Regional Hospital.
With so much attention on COVID-19, Antonino’s owner Joe Ciaravino says people also need to remember about their heart health.
“We want to be a good corporate citizen, we want to give back and the cardiac program is a great cause to support,” he says. “The fundraiser also applies to heart-shaped cinnamon sticks, heart-shaped Nutella pizza, heart-shaped Nutella Ricotta pizza and while quantities last, heartshaped gluten-free personal sized pizzas.”
“Antonino’s has been so generous over the years with this fundraiser and at a time when it is important to support local businesses and support our healthcare services, this is an easy and fun way to do both,” says Director of Public Affairs, Communications and Philanthropy Gisele Seguin.
From January 2020 to December 2020, 309 patients came to the hospital with a heart attack who met the criteria to go directly to the Cath Lab. In addition, 1702 angiograms were performed from April 2020 to December 2020, which is down from 1900 during the same time period in 2019—likely due to COVID-19.
“We encourage people to please follow-up with their physician if they are feeling unwell,” says Interim Director of Critical Care, Cardiology and Respiratory Therapy Sharra Hodgins. “Heart disease must be addressed and should not wait until the pandemic is over.”
Ciaravino is also putting out a challenge to other pizza shops doing heart-shaped pizzas, to help support local causes as well.
Paper hearts are also sold to decorate Antonino’s Original Pizza storefronts in south Windsor, LaSalle and Tecumseh. Proceeds from the paper hearts will also support the cardiac program. When someone orders a pizza over the phone, staff will write the name on a heart and place it in the window.
