Lou Malnati's Heart-Shaped Pizzas Benefit Make-A-Wish Chapters

BUFFALO GROVE, IL — Lou Malnati's deep-dish pizzeria is bringing back its heart-shaped pizzas in February, with a portion of sales benefiting Make-A-Wish chapters in Illinois, Arizona, and Wisconsin.

For every heart-shaped pizza sold, the Buffalo Grove-based pizzeria will donate $1 to help grant wishes for local children facing critical illnesses. This year marks the first time heart-shaped desserts are available alongside the pizzas.

Heart-shaped pizzas became available last weekend at all Lou Malnati's locations for dine-in, carryout, and delivery. The pizzas come in cheese, pepperoni, and sausage varieties. New heart-shaped cookies and Eli's heart-shaped cheesecake are also available. These can be paired with pizzas through special online Make-A-Wish bundles for carryout and delivery. Lou Malnati's will donate $1 for every heart-shaped pizza or Make-A-Wish Bundle sold.

Customers nationwide can order the Make-A-Wish Heart-Shaped Bundle through tastesofchicago.com. This bundle features two heart-shaped pizzas, one heart-shaped cookie, and one Eli's heart-shaped cheesecake. Lou Malnati's will donate $2 from each bundle sold online to Make-A-Wish.

"Our deep-dish pizza brings people together for moments that matter," Julie Younglove-Webb, CEO of Lou Malnati's, said. "This February, every heart-shaped pizza sold helps grant wishes and create special moments for Make-A-Wish families in our communities."

The campaign supports wishes like Annie's, an 8-year-old from Addison, who dreams of a princess party. Annie is one of over 1,100 children waiting for wishes through Make-A-Wish Illinois.

Staff across Lou Malnati’s locations will wear T-shirts designed by Sutton, a 13-year-old Arizona wish kid. Sutton previously used her wish to design a T-shirt benefiting her treatment facility.

Lou Malnati's will also host pizza-making parties and celebration dinners for wish children and their families throughout February.

"Their generous support helps grant life-changing wishes for children like Annie in our community, and these special celebrations give wish families moments of happiness they'll remember for years to come," Carly Fishbein, corporate gift officer for Make-A-Wish Illinois, said

The campaign runs through Feb. 28. Lou Malnati's is committing up to $50,000 in total donations to local Make-A-Wish chapters through this initiative.