CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc., parent company of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s restaurants, kicks off its eighth annual Stars for Heroes fundraising campaign this week at participating restaurants nationwide.
The program, which has raised more than $7.5 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, Stand Up and Play Foundation and USA Cares, as well as other regional and local military-focused charities in the communities Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s serve. Franchisees have nominated local charities to benefit from up to 50 percent of the funds raised in their stores.
The 2018 Stars for Heroes fundraising campaign begins today and will run for four weeks. To participate, restaurant guests can donate $1 or more in support of military charities. For each donation, guests receive a commemorative, star-shaped cut-out to personalize and display on the walls in the restaurant. They will also receive restaurant coupons valued at more than $10 to use toward future purchases.
“Last year was my first Stars for Heroes campaign as CEO, and it made me incredibly proud to be a part of the entire Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s family and to continue the long-standing tradition of supporting America’s military community,” says Jason Marker, chief executive officer for CKE. “This year, we hope to surpass our annual fundraising goal and invite everyone to honor our men and women in uniform by visiting their local Carl’s Jr. or Hardee’s restaurant and making a donation to this outstanding cause.”
“As founder of the Stand Up and Play Foundation, I remain grateful that our foundation continues to be among the recipients of the funds raised by the Stars for Heroes campaign,” says Anthony Netto, founder of Stand Up and Play Foundation. “The entire CKE Restaurants family has generously supported our foundation year after year, allowing us to expand programs and touch more veterans’ lives across the country. We are excited to kick off the 2018 campaign.”
“For seven years, CKE and USA Cares have joined forces to change the lives of post-9/11 veterans and their families,” said Hank Patton, President/CEO for USA Cares. “With the help of the CKE Stars for Heroes program, USA Cares is able to provide families facing the threat of hunger, eviction, foreclosure and other hardships with relief and an opportunity to recover. We look forward to this year’s campaign and are moved by the generosity of the entire CKE family.”
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.
