EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 Heart-shaped pizzas helped raise money for El Paso Children\u2019s Hospital this February, as Peter Piper Pizza wrapped up a monthlong fundraising campaign benefiting Children\u2019s Miracle Network.<\/p>\n
Howard Smith, chief marketing officer for Peter Piper Pizza, said the company sold its \u201cfamous pepperoni pizza in the shape of a heart\u201d throughout February and donated $1 for every heart-shaped pizza sold to Children\u2019s Miracle Network, specifically supporting El Paso Children\u2019s Hospital. <\/p>\n
Smith said nearly 9,000 heart-shaped pizzas were sold in El Paso during the month.<\/p>\n
So today we’re presenting a check,\u201d Smith said. \u201cWe ran a month long, the month of February, a campaign to sell heart shaped pizzas, and for every heart shaped pizza sold, we donated a dollar to the Children’s Miracle Network, specifically the El Paso Children’s Hospital here in El Paso, and we sold almost 9,000 pizzas here in El Paso in the month of February, and so we’re presenting the check to the organization, and we’re very proud to have done so.<\/p>\n
Smith credited local customers for supporting both the promotion and the hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, El Paso, because it’s really our customers who come out and support, you know, not only the great pizza and the cool heart shape, but they’re supporting the organization as well, and I think that’s just our community that’s El Paso,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Alexa Velazquez, director of Children\u2019s Merchandise Network at the El Paso Children\u2019s Hospital Foundation, said the heart-shaped pizza fundraiser marked the third campaign the hospital has done with Peter Piper Pizza.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday we’re celebrating one of the campaigns,\u201d Velazquez said. \u201cIt’s our third campaign that we do with Peter Piper Pizza.\u201d<\/p>\n
Velazquez said the campaign has grown year after year. \u201cYes. So every year we have earned more money and I want to say this year we almost did like more than $2,500 compared to last year,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Velazquez thanked Peter Piper Pizza and the community for supporting the hospital\u2019s mission, saying the funds help care for children at El Paso Children\u2019s Hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat donation does stay here in our hospital, and we couldn’t do what we do without you,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
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