​Fortina And Make-A-Wish Foundation Cook Up A Creative Collaboration

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — An unlikely partnership between a charity organization that makes dreams come true and a restaurant that has become a home away from home for Hudson Valley families is creating joy, even in the face of crisis.

Fortina, the popular Italian restaurant with locations in Armonk, Rye Brook, Yonkers and Stamford, began their year-long charitable partnership with Make-A-Wish this past August.

The Fortina team, led by Director of Operations Samantha Melisi and Culinary Director Paul Failla, provided an afternoon of fun for five wish children with a visit to the restaurant. The highlight of the day was creating their own signature pizzas, including a take on a classic pineapple and ham Hawaiian-style pie, a meat-lovers pie with sausage, pepperoni and meatballs, and even a pizza with potatoes as a topping. Fortina is featuring one of the children’s pies on the menu each month, with net proceeds from those sales benefiting the Make-A-Wish foundation.

"We invited some kids from the Hudson Valley and Connecticut Make-A-Wish chapters to come in, play with some pizza dough, pick toppings and make some pies," said Failla.

Diners can learn the children’s stories, which will be featured on cards with the regular lunch and dinner menus. Proceeds from the specialty pies will be donated each month to the Make-A-Wish foundation.

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.

Make-A-Wish spokesperson Kris Moran noted that the partnership also "provides opportunities for our kids to have a fun activity."

"It’s away from the hospital and treatments, and gets their mind off things," Moran said. "It builds confidence for them. They’re creative, using their imaginations, making something that’s their own."

Fortina plans to continue this partnership through August 2023.