Sailormen Inc., Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen’s largest franchise in the U.S., continues to shine as champion for families living with progressive muscle diseases in Florida, Alabama, Illinois, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Missouri. The company’s innovative “Appetite for a Cure’’ coupon book program in 143 restaurant locations raised a record $421,917 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association during the first quarter of 2011.
Having achieved a 15 percent increase over the prior year’s successful “Appetite for a Cure” promotion, the community-oriented retailer also is hosting the 7th annual Sailormen Inc., Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Golf Classic to benefit MDA on the Senator Course at Don Shula’s Golf Club in Miami Lakes, Florida, on Thursday, May 12. The Miami-based company has raised more than $2.5 million for MDA since 2002.
“We are very proud of what we do at Sailormen Inc. and the people we do it for,’’ says Bob Berg, Sailormen Inc. CEO. “We offer good food at a good price and we make our great selection affordable because these are tough economic times. We also know we are assisting great people at the MDA. We want to do our part and have been for nearly a decade.’’
The money raised by Popeyes patrons, employees, and vendors helps MDA speed up worldwide research seeking treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, ALS, and more than 40 other neuromuscular diseases. It also helps fund MDA clinics, MDA summer camps, and MDA support groups in the seven states where Sailormen Popeyes operates.
In Florida, Popeyes annually supplies food for hundreds of youngsters and volunteers involved in the week-long MDA camp where every activity is tailored to meet the special needs of campers living with muscular dystrophy and related disorders.
“We are so grateful for what Sailormen Popeyes does for MDA, and continue to be impressed by the company’s incredible efforts in seven states,’’ says MDA president & CEO Gerald C. Weinberg. “From sought after ‘Appetite for a Cure’ coupons that reward loyal customers to its signature golf event for the restaurant industry, Sailormen Popeyes is an outstanding cause-marketing partner. The families we serve are blessed indeed to have Popeyes 'Make a Muscle, Make a Difference’ for MDA.’’
Industry support for the 2011 Sailormen Inc., Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Golf Classic is robust, with sponsorship commitments already exceeding the $111,000 event success milestone achieved in 2010. Format for the tournament benefitting MDA is four-person scramble, in which each player starts with a tee shot, followed by team members playing from the selected best shot until a putt is holed. A turn-key event, the Golf Classic will include prizes for a hole in one, closest to the pin, and longest drive, plus breakfast, lunch, raffle, awards ceremony, as well as both silent and live auctions.
MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The association also provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy, and education. The first nonprofit organization to be awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Medical Association “for significant and lasting contributions to the health and welfare of humanity,” MDA’s programs are funded almost entirely by individual private contributors. MDA maintains a network of 200 hospital-affiliated clinics to serve families living with any of 43 different neuromuscular diseases.
