Hooters donates $250k for breast cancer research

Nation's Restaurant News,  Sept 10, 2007  

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ATLANTA -- Hooters Restaurants, based here, in August made its largest single donation ever with the presentation of a $250,000 check to the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research.

The 435-unit chain's donation will go toward the Kelly Jo Dowd breast cancer research grant. Dowd was one of the original Hooters waitresses at the first location in Clearwater, Fla., and recently died after a five-year battle with the disease.

During the past year, Hooters restaurants have been selling cards featuring the classic orange Hooters Girl uniform with pink accents. The chain also has held events to raise money for the cause.

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The check was presented to Nick Valvano, chief executive of the V Foundation, during the 11th Annual Hooters International Swimsuit Pageant in Las Vegas.

"This is not just another donation from us to the V Foundation," said Mike McNeil, Hooters' vice president of marketing. "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."

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