Hooters of America, LLC, today announced Lane Tech College Prep High School of Chicago, Ill., is the recipient of a $5,000 donation to its football booster club, courtesy of Hooters and Jon Gruden, ESPN Monday Night Football analyst, former professional football head coach and founder of the FFCA (Fired Football Coaches Association).
The check presentation and a team wing party for Lane Tech football coaches and players will take place on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 1-2 p.m. CT at the Hooters of Chicago, located at 660 North Wells Street.
Lane Tech High created a video submission that was selected by Hooters as a winner in its “Gruden Giveaway Video Upload Contest.” To compete, contestants were asked to upload a video explaining why Hooters is their favorite place to watch games and why their high school booster club deserves to win a $5,000 grant and free wings for a year from Hooters and Gruden in concert with the FFCA.
During the team party in Chicago, Hooters Girls will present the $5,000 check to the Lane Tech College Prep High School Football Booster Club. Lane Tech Offensive Coordinator Erryn Cobb, who submitted the winning video on behalf of the team, will also receive a $750 Hooters gift card to unlock free wings for a year.
In the winning video submission, Cobb says that the donation will go a long way in funding the growing interest in the Lane Tech football program. He also reminisced about his days playing varsity football in high school and the tradition the seniors established to go to Hooters each Monday night to watch football and eat wings as a team.
“The video submission competition was a great way to see the pride and devotion high school football fans have for their teams and communities,” said Dave Henninger, chief marketing officer, Hooters of America. “As a sports-watching destination, Hooters shares the love of the game and we’re proud to work with a champion like Jon Gruden and the FFCA to give back to the communities we serve.”
Gruden has been a Hooters fan since 1983. During his college days, he served as a wing shaker and oyster shucker at the West Hillsborough Avenue Hooters location in Tampa, Fla. Gruden often looks for ways to pay it forward to the football community and he used the FFCA to team up with Hooters in an effort to give back to the sport. Football programs at local high schools are in need of financial assistance to aid in the development of student-athletes. The proceeds from the sale of FFCA-licensed Hooters merchandise will be donated to local high schools to help cover the costs associated with their football programs. For more information about the FFCA, visit www.ffcassn.com.
For a limited time, those looking to huddle up at Hooters during football season can enjoy the “Gridiron Grub” menu with tasty options that include BBQ pork sliders served on warm mini buns, classic chili cheese fries, as well as shareable platters of sweet chipotle chicken or smoked BBQ pork piled high with additional toppings on Hooters new big dipper fries.
For photos following the Lane Tech check presentation, submit a request through the Hooters newsroom. To find the nearest Hooters location, visit www.hooters.com.
Hooters of America, LLC is the franchisor and operator of more than 412 Hooters restaurants in 44 states and 27 foreign countries. The first Hooters opened in 1983 in Clearwater, Florida. Everyone is liberated from the ordinary at Hooters while enjoying great food, fun and uniquely-Hooters service from the iconic Hooters Girls. For more information about Hooters visit www.Hooters.com or follow us at www.twitter.com/Hooters or www.Facebook.com/Hooters.
