Panda Restaurant Group Inc., parent company of Panda Express, announced a two-pronged fundraising campaign to assist with disaster relief in Haiti. Following the massive, 7.0 magnitude earthquake that left thousands dead and injured and caused extensive damage throughout the country, Panda Restaurant Group committed to a goal of raising $300,000 through in-store and corporate donations to help provide hope to those in need during this devastating time.
Effective January 25 and lasting through February 5, participating Panda Express locations across the country will facilitate donation collections through in-store drop-boxes allowing guests to make contributions of any amount. All guest-donated proceeds, targeted at $100,000, will benefit humanitarian charity organization World Vision. Additionally, the company’s close to 18,000 associates nationwide will donate from their personal incomes, including a $100,000 matching fund facilitated by the company’s founders, Andrew and Peggy Cherng. The corporate-generated proceeds, targeted at $200,000, will be donated to the compassion relief organization Tzu Chi Foundation.
“In response to the wonderful spirit of giving demonstrated by our guests and associates, we are deeply committed to working together to support relief efforts in Haiti,” says Peggy Cherng, co-chairman of Panda Restaurant Group. “With one-third of the Haitian population being children, we view this as a tragedy affecting the world community for current and future generations.”