CKE Restaurants, Inc., parent company to Carl’s Jr.and Hardee’srestaurant chains, launches the Stars for Heroes fundraising campaign this week at participating restaurant locations. Following a successful inaugural program, the 2012 campaign hopes to again harness the national reach of both brands and the generosity of its customers, franchisees and company employees to rally behind the nation’s military families and veterans. Funds raised during this year’s campaign will assist those groups through national charity partnerships with The Mission Continues and USA Cares, as well as through regional charities with existing ties to individual Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s restaurant communities.
The Stars for Heroes fundraising campaign kicks off in-store today at Hardee’s and April 25 at Carl’s Jr. and will run for three weeks. To participate, restaurant guests donate $1 in support of military charities. For each $1 donation, guests receive a commemorative “I am supporting military communities and families” patriotic star-shaped cut out to personalize and place on display in the restaurant. They will also receive restaurant coupons valued at more than $10 to use toward future purchases.
“As part of our ongoing effort to support a cause that is important to our customers, employees, franchisees, and to me personally, we’re thrilled to announce the second year of the Stars for Heroes fundraising campaign to benefit military communities and families,” said Andy Puzder, CEO of CKE Restaurants, Inc., the parent company for both Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s. “Our franchise community’s support through the Independent Hardee’s Franchise Association (IHFA) and Star Franchise Association (SFA) has been a key driver in the ongoing development of this program and their generosity, along with that of our company employees and loyal customers, is simply astounding. The patriotic stars that will soon fill our Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s restaurant walls will be a powerful reminder that everyone can make a difference in the lives of the people who make the ultimate sacrifice for our country. I am confident that the 2012 campaign will be another huge success.”
Together with Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s stores, the IHFA and SFA, the inaugural Stars for Heroes fundraising campaign last year raised more than $1 million for military families and veterans. Those funds supported the programs of 2011 national beneficiaries, Homes for Our Troops and USA Cares, as well as 18 other regional charities with existing ties to individual Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s restaurant communities. Funds raised in the 2012 campaign will assist national beneficiaries, The Mission Continues and USA Cares and will designate an even larger percentage of the funds raised to local organizations and regional efforts.
“As a St. Louis-based organization, we are honored to be partnering with CKE Restaurants, Hardee’s, Carl’s Jr., and their generous franchisees. Their support for our mission allows us to continue to make a difference in the lives of military members and their families,” said Eric Greitens, CEO & Founder of The Mission Continues. “Support from the Stars for Heroes campaign will allow us to help even more post-9/11 veterans in continuing to serve and lead in cities across the country.”
“We are so excited to partner with CKE Restaurants and the Stars for Heroes program again this year,” said Bill Nelson, executive director of USA Cares. “As an organization that relies solely on donations for funding, the Stars for Heroes campaign not only provides us with the means to continue our services to active duty soldiers, veterans, Guard and Reserve members and their families, but also to raise public awareness of the need for our assistance programs.”
The Stars for Heroes campaign is made successful through generous contributions by CKE employees, franchisees, customers and guests as well as private donations from organizations like Synq Solutions, Inc.
“Synq Solutions is pleased to support the Stars for Heroes program by providing marketing materials and other supplies to help spread the word and bring visual awareness to the military cause,” said Mike Snyder, chief executive officer at Synq Solutions, Inc. “We’re honored to give back to those military members who have given, and continue to give, so much. We hope that our contribution encourages others to support and donate to the cause as well.”
Originally called Stars for Troops in its inaugural year, the fundraising campaign name was officially changed to Stars for Heroes in January 2012 in order to more clearly convey CKE’s commitment to active military, veterans and military families, all of whom are heroes.
For more information, pictures, video, links and regional event listings, visit Stars for Heroes on Facebook at www.facebook.com/StarsforHeroes. To learn more about the Stars for Heroes national beneficiaries, visit their websites at www.missioncontinues.org and www.usacares.org.
