CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc., parent company of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s restaurants, kicks off its seventh annual Stars for Heroes fundraising campaign this week at participating locations nationwide. The program, which has raised more than $6.5 million since its inception in 2011, promotes the compassion and generosity of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s customers, franchisees and employees to support our nation’s active-duty military, veterans and their families. Funds raised during this year’s campaign will support national charity partners, Gary Sinise Foundation, Stand Up and Play Foundation, and USA Cares as well as dozens of regional and local military-focused charities in the communities Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s serve.
The 2017 Stars for Heroes fundraising campaign begins today and runs through June 21. To participate, restaurant guests can donate any dollar amount of their choosing in support of military charities. For each donation, guests receive a commemorative “I support military veterans and families” patriotic star-shaped cut-out to personalize and display in the restaurant. They will also receive restaurant coupons valued at more than $10 to use toward future purchases.
“The entire Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s family—from executive to customer—has a long-standing tradition of giving back to, and supporting America’s military community; I’m incredibly proud to be able to continue that legacy with my first Stars for Heroes campaign as CEO,” says Jason Marker, chief executive officer for CKE. “In 2016, CKE raised over $1.5 million to aid in the vital work of our regional and national charitable partners, and this year, we’re hoping to push that total even higher. We invite everyone to honor our nation’s brave people in uniform this Memorial Day by visiting a nearby Carl’s Jr. or Hardee’s location and making a donation to this outstanding cause.”
“The Gary Sinise Foundation values its great relationship with CKE,” says Gary Sinise, founder of Gary Sinise Foundation. “CKE is making a difference, and understands the importance of standing strong for those who serve and defend our great nation. While we can never do enough to support our veterans and first responders, we can always try to do more, and through the contributions from Stars for Heroes, we will continue to promote that message. My personal thanks goes out to everyone at CKE for their continuing support.”
“As founder of the Stand up and Play Foundation, I cannot put into words how grateful I am that our foundation will again be among the recipients of the funds raised by the Stars for Heroes campaign in 2017,” says Anthony Netto, founder of Stand Up and Play Foundation. “I am honored to have the support of the incredible individuals at all levels of Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s and the entire CKE family. This campaign has impacted our foundation tremendously, year after year, allowing us to expand our programs across the country and touch the lives of numerous veterans. I am humbled by the generosity shown to us and excited to kick off this year’s campaign.”
“For seven years, CKE and USA Cares have joined forces to change the lives of post-9/11 veterans and their families,” says Hank Patton, executive director for USA Cares. “Families facing the threat of hunger, eviction, foreclosure and other hardships trust that USA Cares will be there to provide them with relief and an opportunity to recover. The tremendous support our organization has received from the Stars for Heroes campaign has strengthened our ability to help those who have given so much of themselves; we are humbled by this honor and thank CKE for making this possible.”
Since 2011, the Stars for Heroes program has supported more than 200 U.S. military charities nationwide. Stars for Heroes is made possible through generous contributions by CKE’s franchise community—The Independent Hardee’s Franchise Association (IHFA) and Star Franchise Association (SFA)—along with company employees and loyal customers. Private donations and in-kind support are provided by CKE partners and suppliers, including KDM POP Solutions Group. To learn more about the Stars for Heroes national beneficiaries, visit their websites at www.garysinisefoundation.org, www.standupandplayfoundation.org and www.usacares.org.
