Hooters raised $710,000 this October by asking America to #GiveAHoot in the fight against breast cancer during its month-long fundraising campaign in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month—adding up to a total amount of more than $7.2 million raised. The funds, raised with tremendous support from Hooters restaurants and guests from around the world, are being presented to the V Foundation during the 2020 Men’s Jimmy V Basketball Classic on Wednesday, December 2, in Indianapolis.
The 2020 Give A Hoot campaign directly benefits the V Foundation for Cancer Research, one of the nation’s leading cancer research funding organizations, as well as other local beneficiaries through the Kelly Jo Dowd Breast Cancer Research Fund. Part of the Hooters Community Endowment Fund (HOO.C.E.F.), the Kelly Jo Dowd Breast Cancer Research Fund was established in honor of the late Kelly Jo Dowd, an original Hooters Girl and the 1995 Hooters Calendar Cover Girl.
With close to 270,000 females expected to be affected by breast cancer in the U.S. this year, the statistics are too high to be ignored. And, with more than 17,000 Hooters Girls around the globe and a workforce made up of 70 percent women, Hooters is committed to raising awareness and funds for breast cancer research.
During this year’s fundraising campaign, Hooters guests were invited to contribute to the cause by adding their name to a personalized endowment card, enjoying one of several ‘pink drinks’ with proceeds benefiting the campaign, buying specialty pink merchandise, ‘pinking up’ their check during a visit to Hooters or donating to get a special video shoutout from a Hooters Girl on Cameo.
Inspired by Hooters very own Kelly Jo Dowd, who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2007, Hooters Girls have now raised more than $7.2 million over the years to support breast cancer research, much of it through the grant in Kelly Jo’s name to the V Foundation. These grants have helped fund a range of cancer research from therapeutic discovery to personalized cancer treatment to identifying stage-specific metastasis characteristics. The annual fundraising effort honors Kelly Jo and furthers her mission to educate all women, especially her extended family consisting of some 300,000 current and former Hooters Girls, about the importance of early detection and prevention. Throughout her struggle, Kelly Jo was courageous and selfless, becoming an advocate for early detection, education and fundraising.
The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993, the Foundation has funded more than $250 million in cancer research grants nationwide with 100 percent of direct cash donations funding cancer research. The V Foundation’s endowment covers administrative expenses. For more information about The V Foundation for Cancer Research, please visit v.org.
Although Breast Cancer Awareness Month has ended, contributions can still be made online at Hooters.com/Give.