ST. CLAIRSVILLE — DeFelice Brothers Pizza is again helping pizza aficionados show each other how they feel this Valentine’s Day through its annual heart-shaped pizza fundraiser.

The event is slated for Feb. 12-14 at all nine of its locations, which include stores in St. Clairsville, Martins Ferry, Shadyside, Newark, Wintersville, Bethlehem, Wheeling, Follansbee and Moundsville.

On those dates people can purchase a 12-inch-pizza pie in the shape of a heart, with $1 from every sale benefiting the American Heart Association.

Dominic DeFelice, president of the company, said this will mark the 40th year for the heart-shaped pizza tradition. Last year, the company donated $3,000 to the American Heart Association through the fundraiser.

“Those proceeds come from all nine of our pizza locations,” he said. “It’s a great cause.”

He said he had a heart condition when he was younger but “grew out of it” with age. Once the business was started, he said he wanted to make sure he gave back to the organization that helps fund cardiovascular research and educational efforts on heart disease and stroke.

DeFelice said the heart pizzas have garnered ample excitement over the years.

“It’s a double-edged sword – it’s wonderful and it’s very trying. We ask people to have patience with us because those days we are busy and this year, the first day of the sale is going to be Super Bowl Sunday. So that just adds to the busyness, but we do our best. Our help is geared up and ready to go. They’re excited about it,” he said.

Lauren Thomas, development director for the American Heart Association, said the timing of the fundraiser is perfect as it runs amid National Heart Month.

“February is National Heart Month, so it works out perfectly with this partnership as well as the Ohio Valley Heart Ball is finally back after a two-year hiatus due to COVID, so we’ll be planning that for Feb. 25 at Belmont Hills Country Club. We’re just excited to be partnering with DeFelice again for Heart Month,” she said.

Thomas said heart disease is something that affects everyone.

“It’s the No. 1 killer. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer in America and also stroke is the No. 5 killer in America. So it affects all of us. It’s affected my family and many of our other families, that someone has suffered from a stroke, heart attack, heart disease, heart failure. It happens to everyone,” she said.

Thomas said the donation garnered from the pizza shops’ fundraising efforts makes a “huge impact” for the organization.

“The funds go towards life saving research that happens just in our backyard, whether that’s down the road at WVU or Ohio State, we fund those research projects that help save lives in the long run,” she said.

“… Small businesses are the heartbeat of what we do in our communities. Without small businesses helping with sponsorship or helping support the heart association, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do every single day. I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the job I have every day. People like Dom and many throughout the Ohio Valley area, I’m very thankful for because they’re helping to save lives every single day.”