Hooters presents $40,876 donation to Holy Family School
Hooters Wings for the Kids Program has raised over $1 million for school
Since its inception, Hooters Wings for the Kids program has now raised $1,040,876 dollars from chicken wing sales at the Chicagoland Hooters locations including Aurora, Chicago-O’Hare, Chicago-Wells Street, Countryside, Downers Grove, Joliet, Lansing, Melrose Park, Oak Lawn, Orland Park and Schaumburg. Representatives from the Chicagoland Hooters locations presented Holy Family School with a donation of $40,876 on March 13. Holy Family School is at 3415 W. Arthington St. in Homan Square on the west side of Chicago.
During the entire month of February, the 11 Chicagoland Hooters locations donated one-third of all chicken wing sales on Tuesdays to Holy Family School. The money raised funds for tuition, library books, classroom supplies, technology and other school essentials for children living in under-resourced communities.
“Again, this year, Holy Family Ministries is excited to partner with Hooters Restaurants in the Chicagoland area for another year of Wings for Kids. Our children, and their families and teachers are truly grateful for all that this initiative helps provide — library books, classroom supplies, technology needs and much more. Every day, students at Holy Family eagerly come to school to learn and grow. The Hooters Wings for the Kids fundraiser in February helps ensure that our students continue to succeed and have every opportunity to become tomorrow's leaders,” said Cheryl Wells Collins, Holy Family School CEO.
Holy Family School was established in 1985 to offer a high-quality education for minority students in Chicago’s low-income neighborhoods. Holy Family provides a learning environment that nurtures intellectual, spiritual, social, emotional and physical growth for students in preschool through eighth grade. All proceeds directly support the children of Holy Family, by funding scholarships and after school programs.
“We started the Wings for Kids Initiative in the Chicagoland area over 30 years ago to help raise funds to support children’s education in our community. Being an active participant in our community including helping children prepare for their future is a priority. This community initiative with Holy Family School helps local families offset educational expenses such as the cost of tuition, technology and other school essentials. Our employees look forward to additional opportunities to volunteer with the teachers and children at the school throughout the year,” said HMC Hospitality Group Chief Marketing Officer Denise Williams. The Hooters Wings for the Kids Program started in Chicagoland in 1992.
“In the small town of Waverly, Iowa, in the 1960s, my friends attending the teen activities at Luther League every Sunday night included the future founder of Hooters, Ed Droste. Many years later, I called him to see if he would help our little school in the heart of the Chicago Cabrini Green housing projects, where we yearned for a better education for the children,” recalled Dr. Susan Infelt Work, CEO Emeritus of Holy Family School. “Ed said yes, and the Hooters’ tradition of caring and sharing was launched".
HMC Hospitality Group, founders of the Hooters concept, own and operate 22 Hooters Restaurants in Tampa Bay and Chicagoland and two Hoots locations in Chicagoland. For more information about HMC Hospitality Group visit originalhooters.com or follow them at Twitter @originalhooters, Instagram @originalhooters and Facebook at facebook.com/originalhooters.
To learn more about Holy Family and how you can help, contact Cynthia Schmidt at cschmidt@hfm.org or visit facebook.com/HolyFamilyChi.