Culver’s restaurants raised more than $75,000 last week for local American Red Cross chapters to aid in Midwest disaster relief efforts. On Tuesday, July 1, more than 100 Culver’s restaurants in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Des Moines, Iowa; Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa; Madison, Wisconsin; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Rockford, Moline, East Moline, and Rock Island, Illinois, raised the funds through a 10 percent of sales donation. Additional funds were collected from individual donations placed in canisters by guests.

Culver’s restaurants in Indianapolis also recently contributed to the Red Cross collection efforts by encouraging guests to make personal donations in canisters on June 18. The Indianapolis efforts collected an additional $28,000, making Culver’s total donation to more than $100,000.

The money raised at each locally owned and operated restaurant will stay in the community to help the Red Cross support the many communities recently affected by the weather related disasters across the Midwest. In addition to the monetary donation, Culver’s continues to donate food to volunteers and victims.

“Culver’s was able to raise money to help communities that have been terribly affected by the weather related disasters and are truly in need of the assistance,” says Lea Culver, Culver’s co-founder and a Red Cross volunteer. “The unity displayed by our guests and our franchise partners, working together to make this significant contribution to the Red Cross, is truly an amazing effort.”

“Having socially conscious companies make donations to the Red Cross is vital toward helping restore hope and dignity to local communities and individuals during these vulnerable times,” says John Strah, disaster fundraising officer, American Red Cross. “The donations will help our efforts to get people back on their feet. We sincerely thank Culver’s and the kind people that contributed.”

Community giving is a shared value for all Culver’s franchise partners, managers, and team members. Throughout the year, the work of the Red Cross in communities across America encourages people to take the steps to prepare for emergencies, take CPR and first aid training, to volunteer their time, give blood, and financially support the programs and services of the Red Cross.