The Muscular Dystrophy Association will benefit from separate fundraising efforts by franchisees of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and Hardee's.
Popeyes' franchisee Sailormen Inc. has kicked off a fundraising campaign at Popeyes restaurants on the Treasure Coast and across the Southeast that will provide customers with valuable discounts while garnering support for the MDA's worldwide research and services programs.
Throughout the duration of the Appetite for a Cure campaign, now through March 15, associates at participating Popeyes locations will sell coupon cards worth $30 for only $1. Coupons are good for a free drink and discounts on future purchases.
The Appetite for a Cure program directly helps local families affected by muscular dystrophy and related diseases by helping fund the association's worldwide research program, as well as MDA's network of more than 200 medical clinics. Medical services in South Florida are provided through clinics at JupiterMedicalCenter, the University of Miami and Broward GeneralMedicalCenter.
In addition, area children with neuromuscular diseases enjoy a free week of MDA summer camp.
Sailormen Inc. is the largest domestic franchisee of Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits restaurants, with 163 locations in seven states. The company has raised more than $1 million for MDA since 2002.
Hardee's Shamrocks Against Dystrophy campaign
Hardee's locations owned and operated by Boddie-Noell Enterprises (BNE) will raise funds this year for the MDA by participating in the Shamrocks Against Dystrophy campaign.
Now through March 17, St. Patrick's Day, customers at participating restaurants across North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky and South Carolina will be encouraged to purchase a $1 green or a $5 gold Shamrock. To date, BNE has donated well over $1 million to the MDA since joining the campaign in 1999.
Once sold, the Shamrocks, including the customer's signature, are hung for display in each restaurant to create a festive St. Patrick's Day atmosphere. In exchange, each customer who purchases a Shamrock receives a coupon for a discount in the restaurant.
A portion of the total raised by BNE restaurants will help send children across North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky and South Carolina to local MDA summer camps this year. Offering a fun, safe outdoor experience, the camps give participants the opportunity to develop important life skills such as confidence, independence and social ability.
"Our goal is to send as many children as possible to local MDA summer camps this year," said Jerry Allsbrook, MDA national vice president and chief marketing officer for BNE. "Every year we're amazed at the commitment of our employees and customers in supporting this fundraising event for children. We hope 2010 will be the best fundraiser to date for Hardee's and Boddie-Noell."
Annually, Boddie-Noell restaurants are one of the largest contributors to MDA in the Carolinas and in Virginia. Contributions collected during the fundraiser will also go to help with care for local children and adults affected by one of the 43 diseases for which the MDA provides treatment.
The local services that the MDA provides include access to a national equipment loan program, assistance with durable medical equipment repairs, support groups, professional health education and care at affiliated clinics at Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Roanoke Neurological Center, the Medical College of Virginia and elsewhere.
BNE is the largest Hardee's franchise operator in the United States with 340 restaurants across four states.
