Hooters Restaurants has made its largest single donation ever with the presentation of a $250,000 check to the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research. The funds will go towards the 2 million dollar Kelly Jo Dowd breast cancer research grant, developed for Kelly Jo 2 years ago. Kelly Jo was one of the original Hooters Girls at the first location in Clearwater, Florida, and recently lost her battle with breast cancer after battling the dreaded disease for the past 5 years. In the last years of her life, Kelly Jo became an advocate for early detection, education and fundraising in the battle against breast cancer within the Hooters organization.
Over the past year, Hooters restaurants across the country have been selling pink Hooters Girl uniform card cutouts and holding fundraising events to raise money for the cause. The check was presented to Nick Valvano, CEO of the V Foundation, during the 11th Annual Hooters International Swimsuit Pageant in Las Vegas after a tribute video and toast to Kelly Jo.
"This is not just another donation from us to the V Foundation," explained Mike McNeil, VP of Marketing for Hooters, "We are fulfilling a promise to Kelly Jo we made before she passed away - a promise to support breast cancer research and make awareness and early detection a focus for 250,000 Hooters Girls past and present."
Hooters of America, Inc. is the franchisor and operator of over 435 Hooters restaurants in 44 states and 22 foreign countries. Hooters is very involved with charities and organizations nationwide through HOO.C.E.F., the Hooters Community Endowment Fund. The fund was started in 1992 and has raised and contributed over 8 million dollars to major non-profit organizations like Make-A-Wish Foundation, the V Foundation for Cancer Research, American Diabetes Association, Special Olympics, Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
Known for its famous Hooters Style chicken wings, the first Hooters opened its doors in 1983 in Clearwater, Florida.