America responds generously to #GiveAHoot fundraising efforts during Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Hooters today announced it raised a record-setting $811,022 this October by asking America to #GiveAHoot in the fight against breast cancer during its month-long fundraising campaign in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The 2015 Give A Hoot campaign directly benefits The V Foundation for Cancer Research, one of the nation’s leading cancer research funding organizations, as well as other local beneficiaries through the Kelly Jo Dowd Breast Cancer Research Fund. Part of the Hooters Community Endowment Fund (HOO.C.E.F.), the Kelly Jo Dowd Breast Cancer Research Fund was established in honor of the late Kelly Jo Dowd, an original Hooters Girl and the 1995 Hooters Calendar Cover Girl.
Hooters presented a check to The V Foundation for $735,000 during the 2015 Jimmy V Men’s Basketball Classic held at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Dec. 8.
“I am continuously inspired by the strength of the Hooters team when working together toward a common cause, in this case raising a record-setting $811,000 and encouraging women to learn more about early detection,” said Carl Sweat, chief marketing officer for Hooters. “Thanks to the generosity of our guests from stores across the country and our Hooters Girls, who have demonstrated their passion and drive to make this campaign a success, we are proud to support a cause so close to the fabric of our brand and make a small difference in the fight against breast cancer.”
The overall top Hooters franchisee was Restaurants of America with restaurants in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Minnesota raising more than $60,300 to claim the title of top-performing franchise ownership group. Hooters, Inc. with restaurants in Florida, Illinois, Nevada and New York raised more than $54,400 and LTP Management with restaurants in Florida raised $51,000 as the second and third top-performing franchisee ownership groups, respectively.
Hooters Girls from across the United States worked together to make this October fundraising period successful, including 2015 Miss Hooters International Meagan Pastorchik, who made national and local media appearances while engaging with local communities to help spread awareness.
During this year’s fundraising campaign, Hooters guests were invited to contribute to the cause by grabbing a pink bracelet with donation or by enjoying one of several ‘pink drinks’ with proceeds benefiting the campaign. For every 2016 Hooters Calendar purchased, Hooters donated $1 toward the Give A Hoot fundraising effort. Hooters also auctioned a custom-made Hooters 2008 GMC C4500 Monster Truck, raising an additional $45,750 for cancer research.
Inspired by Hooters very own Kelly Jo Dowd, who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2007, Hooters Girls have now raised nearly $4 million over the years to support breast cancer research, much of it through the grant in Kelly Jo’s name to The V Foundation for Cancer Research. These grants have helped fund a range of cancer research from therapeutic discovery to personalized cancer treatment to identifying stage-specific metastasis characteristics. The annual fundraising effort honors Kelly Jo and furthers her mission to educate all women, especially her extended family consisting of some 300,000 current and former Hooters Girls, about the importance of early detection and prevention.
The V Foundation for Cancer Research has funded more than $150 million in cancer research grants nationwide with 100 percent of direct cash donations funding cancer research. Due to generous donors, the Foundation has an endowment that covers administrative expenses. For more information about The V Foundation for Cancer Research, please visit www.jimmyv.org.
Although Breast Cancer Awareness Month has ended, contributions can still be made online at Give.Hooters.com. To find the nearest Hooters location, visit www.hooters.com.
Hooters of America, LLC, is the franchisor and operator of more than 420 Hooters restaurants in 42 states and 26 countries. Known for its world famous Hooters Style chicken wings, the first Hooters opened its doors in 1983 in Clearwater, Florida. Expectations were so modest at the time that the simple fact the doors opened was deemed worthy of a toast. Since then millions have been liberated from the ordinary at Hooters while enjoying great food, fun and one-of-a-kind hospitality that can only be served up by the Hooters Girls. For more information about Hooters visit www.Hooters.com or follow us at www.Twitter.com/Hooters, www.Facebook.com/Hooters, www.Instagram.com/Hooters or on Snapchat at “hootersLIVE”.
