Fortina

Fortina and Make-A-Wish® Team Up for A Creative & Delicious Collaboration

Fortina partners with Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley and the Make-A-Wish Connecticut chapter to support the foundation and provide memorable experiences to children from the organization.

The Fortina team, led by Director of Operations Samantha Melisi and Culinary Director Paul Failla, provide an afternoon of fun for wish children with a visit to the restaurant where they enjoy appetizers and dessert. The highlight of the day is creating their own signature pizzas including a take on a classic pineapple and crispy bacon, a chicken tenders and pepperoni pie, pepperoni and olives (with exact placement of the toppings being extremely important with the design), and even a pizza with french fries as a topping.

Now through April 2024, Fortina is featuring one of the children’s pies on the menu each month, with net proceeds from those sales benefiting Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley and Make-A-Wish Connecticut. Four local children from the Hudson Valley are being highlighted during the campaign including Ellie, Olivia, Khalinda and Orianna.

• February features Chef Orianna's signature pie which includes marinara sauce, shredded mozz, perpperoni, mushrooms, roasted peppers and basil. 15-year-old Orianna, from Bronxville, had her wish to go to Hawaii granted during the Summer of 2023.
• April features Chef Joe's signature pie which tomato, shredded mozz, fresh mozzarella, chicken cutlet, bacon, basil, and buffalo sauce. 13-year-old Joe's wish to go to Walt Disney World was granted in 2023. 
• July features Chef Dash's signature pie which includes tomato, shredded mozz, sausage, bacon, chicken cutlet, meatball, pepperoni, mushroom, and parmesan. 13-year-old Dash's wish to go to the Atlantis Resort was granted in 2024.

Through this partnership, Fortina will be able to consistently donate to Make-A-Wish, supporting the organization in their mission to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.