Industry News | October 5, 2012
Zaxby's Grants Wishes as Part of Make-A-Wish Alliance
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Zaxby’s is increasing its commitment to Make-A-Wish in honor of the thousands of children the restaurant chain serves every year.
As part of its second sponsorship, Zaxby’s will help grant the wishes of 45 children with life-threatening medical conditions.
“We’ve been inspired by stories of courage, heart, and never-give-up attitudes,” says Zach McLeroy, CEO and cofounder of Zaxby’s. “We’re honored to continue our sponsorship and hope to bring a little happiness to some very deserving children.”
The sponsorship will be part of Zaxby’s larger, ongoing effort, Zaxby’s Kidz Care. The program is a new initiative encouraging kids to be caring, kind and involved in their communities, and will be housed on the company’s website.
Throughout the alliance, the Zaxby’s Kidz Care program will feature a few of the wishes being granted. The site will include a Wish Diaries video series, filmed by Zaxby’s and wish children’s families. Wish Diaries captures each child’s personal experiences and emotions during the granting of their wish.
The Make-A-Wish children whose wishes will be highlighted in the Wish Diaries series include: Five-year-old Eliah, who has a life-threatening neurological condition and wished to have a swing set; 7-year-old Tessa, who has leukemia and wished to go to the beach; and 17-year-old Daria, who has leukemia and wished to have a harp.
Additionally, the Zaxby’s Kidz Care section of the site will include a Wish Gallery, where parents and their children are encouraged to create a virtual wish star to share with Make-A-Wish and all website visitors.
Zaxby’s Kidz Meals will also include a postcard inspiring children to color, write a positive note, and share it with Zaxby’s and Make-A-Wish.
Throughout each week of the program, one virtual wish or postcard will be featured as a Wish of the Week on Zaxby’s Facebook page.
QSR® magazine has always found space to report on the charitable works and deeds of members of the foodservice community. But recently it became important to us to step up our efforts, and the decision was made to consolidate these stories in one place so you, the reader, could easily learn about what the industry is doing when it comes to giving back.
Our hope is that these pages will inspire and motivate you to take up your own cause—whatever that might be—to make our world a better place.
Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy's International, told readers in the very first issue of QSR magazine that "Profit is not a dirty word." But Thomas also worked tirelessly for the many charitable causes that touched his life. In so doing, he proved that running a successful business extends beyond the bottom line and that the real rewards in life are measured in a currency far greater than the dollar.
So let these stories inspire you to find your cause, if you haven't already done so. We encourage you to let us know what you're doing, so that others might follow your lead, pickup your cause, and contribute in ever more positive ways to our communities and lives.
Among the causes that QSR magazine supports is CureSearch for Children’s Cancer. CureSearch for Children’s Cancer funds the lifesaving, collaborative research of the Children’s Oncology Group, the world's largest, cooperative pediatric cancer research organization. More than 5,000 physicians, nurses and other researchers, at more than 200 hospitals in North America, treat 90 percent of children with cancer. Funding efforts by CureSearch allows children with cancer to receive world-class treatment and care close to home.
Only research cures children’s cancer. The cure rates have risen from 10% forty years ago to a 78% overall cure rate today. Our goal is 100%.
Be part of the cure. Together, we can conquer children’s cancer.
The U.S. Congress has under consideration a bill that would provide $150 million for childhood cancer research. CureSearch offers an easy email template to write your federal representatives in support of this bill. It may be the most rewarding five minutes you spend today.
