Wings for the Kids Hits $1 Million Mark
The Hooters Wings for the Kids program has now hit the $1 million mark from chicken wing sales at our 11 Chicagoland Hooters locations. Every Tuesday in February, one-third of chicken wing sales are given back to Holy Family Schools. Representatives from the Hooters Restaurants of the Chicagoland area presented Holy Family School with a donation of $42,418 on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Since its inception in 1992, the Wings for the Kids program has now raised $1,000,418 for the school.
"Holy Family Ministries is very grateful for the longstanding support from Hooters Wings for the Kids initiative because we know that we can count on this gift each year to support our students' success. We know that the donation from Hooters will be used to purchase classroom supplies that dwindle at this time of year, provide classroom books for learning and pleasure, and update a few pieces of tech equipment in a few classrooms as well. What an impact this makes for our students! They can continue to learn with new and updated curriculum materials throughout the year," said Cheryl Wells Collins, Holy Family School CEO.
Holy Family School was established in 1985 to offer a high-quality education for minority students in Chicago’s low-income neighborhoods. Holy Family provides a learning environment that nurtures intellectual, spiritual, social, emotional and physical growth for students Preschool through 8th Grade. ALL proceeds directly support the children of Holy Family, by funding scholarships and after school programs.
“We want to thank everyone in the Chicagoland area who helped us reach our goal of hitting the $1 million mark in 2024. We started the Wings for Kids Initiative in the Chicagoland area over 30 years ago to help raise funds to support children’s education in our community. Being an active participant in our community including helping children prepare for their future is a priority. This community initiative with Holy Family School helps local families offset educational expenses such as the cost of tuition, technology and other school essentials. Our employees look forward to additional opportunities to volunteer with the teachers and children at the school throughout the year,” said HMC Hospitality Group Chief Marketing Officer Denise Williams.
“In the small town of Waverly, Iowa in the 1960's, my friends attending the teen activities at Luther League every Sunday night included the future founder of Hooters, Ed Droste. Many years later, I called him to see if he would help our little school in the heart of the Chicago Cabrini Green housing projects, where we yearned for a better education for the children," recalls Dr. Susan Infelt Work, CEO Emeritus of Holy Family School. "Ed said yes, and the Hooters’ tradition of caring and sharing was launched".
