Hooters Presents Donation of $40,755 to Holy Family School
Since its inception, Hooters Wings for the Kids program has raised over $910,000 from chicken wing sales at 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 Chicago area Hooters locations volunteered and presented Holy Family School with a donation of $40,755.79 on April 1.
The day is extra special for Melrose Park Hooters Girl Sier Smith who attended Holy Family School as a child.
"This is such a full circle moment for me. I was a pretty quiet and shy kid while I was there. One of my earliest memories is of my kindergarten teacher telling me that it's ok to be different and she knew I would grow up to be a great person. I've held that close to my heart ever since. It feels great to be giving back to the place that gave me that motivation at such a young age. I hope to share that same motivation with the kids there now," said Melrose Park Hooters girl and former Holy Family School student Sier Smith.
During the entire month of February, the 11 Chicago area Hooters locations donated one-third of all chicken wing sales on Thursdays to Holy Family School. The Hooters Wings for the Kids Program started in Chicagoland in 1992. Since then it has raised over $910,000 for Holy Family School. The money raised funds tuition, technology and books for children living in under-resourced communities. Holy Family School is located in Homan Square on the west side of Chicago at 3415 W Arthington Street.
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 Preschool through 8th Grade. ALL proceeds directly support the children of Holy Family, by funding scholarships and after school programs.
"The generous support of Hooters could not come at a better time. Our children and families gratefully receive their assistance for academic scholarships and much needed services such as counseling and tutoring. It is during times like this that we more fully discover the true strength of "togetherness' and we thank Hooters for being a part of the Holy Family "Family",” stated Cheryl Collins, Holy Family School CEO.
"We started the Wings for Kids Initiative in the Chicagoland area 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 with education including tuition, technology and books is a priority of Hooters. In addition to presenting the donation to the school our team enjoys spending time volunteering and reading to the kids during their visits," said HMC Hospitality Group Chief Marketing Officer Denise Williams.
"In the small town of Waverly, Iowa, in the 1960's, 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," recalls 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 owns and operates 22 Hooters Restaurants and 5 Hoots locations in Tampa Bay and Chicagoland. Hooters came to Chicagoland in 1991. For more information about HMC Hospitality Group please visit www.originalhooters.com or follow us at Twitter @originalhooters, Instagram @originalhooters and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/originalhooters.
To learn more about Holy Family and how you can help contact Cynthia Schmidt at cschmidt@hfm.org and/or link our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HolyFamilyChi/.