Gio’s Pizzeria Supports MHA with Wing Promotion Every NFL Game Day

HAMPDEN — Americans are expected to eat a whopping 1.38 billion chicken wings During Super Bowl weekend, according to the National Chicken Council — about 27 million more than last year. Gio’s Pizzeria, a fixture in Hampden since 2011, is leveraging its customers’ love of chicken wings to raise funds for the Mental Health Assoc. (MHA). On every NFL game day now through Super Sunday, Gio’s will donate 50% of proceeds from the sale of their chicken wings to MHA.

“I wish more people would be more aware and more understanding of mental health,” said Gio Cirillo, general manager of Gio’s Pizzeria. “People need to talk about it and not hold it inside. MHA does so much good in so many ways for mental health, and I wanted to help. I think this wings promotion is a great opportunity for a local business to do what we can and what we know to support the issue of mental health and bring further awareness to the community.”

Gio’s Pizzeria, located at 9 Allen St. in Hampden, is a family-owned and operated Italian restaurant serving pizza and Italian foods, using homemade dough and marinara sauce made daily.

“We’re thrilled that Gio Cirillo is making this generous commitment to MHA, and I can’t think of a more delicious way to do it than with that staple of football finger food, chicken wings,” said Kimberley Lee, vice president of Resource Development & Branding for MHA. “Fifty cents of every dollar you spend on Gio’s wings on NFL game days through Super Sunday will go directly to MHA to support our programs in mental wellness, developmental disabilities, homelessness, substance use, acquired brain injury, and more. If you’re going to eat chicken wings during the playoffs, get yours from Gio’s.”

Cirillo explained that every chicken wing sold on NFL game days counts toward Gio’s donation to MHA. “Pick up, delivery, or dine in, it’s all the same,” he said. “We deliver throughout Hampden and into parts of Springfield, Wilbraham, East Longmeadow, Longmeadow, Monson, Enfield, and Somers. Customers can call to place an order and confirm they’re in our delivery area. Place orders early on game days, especially on Super Sunday. I can’t stress that enough. There will be a lot of demand those days, which is exactly why we picked those days to raise funds and awareness for MHA.”