Hooters Calendar Girl Launches Campaign to Help Buy Electronic Standup Wheelchair for a 10-Year-Old Girl

2026 Hooters Calendar Girl Miss July Gracie Williams who works at Fort Lauderdale Beach Place Hooters had the opportunity to meet Maci Jones, a ten-year-old girl while the child was dining at the Pembroke Pines Hooters with her family after a Dolphins game. Gracie was there signing autographs for an event.

The child caught the eye of Gracie with her uplifting spirit. “Maci and I clicked when we met. She has an amazing personality, she loves to dance, sing and have fun. She loves to tell everyone she made the honor roll at school. She is caring and that is why I want to help her and her family. We have similar personalities,” said Gracie Williams. Gracie wanted to help and offered for Hooters to hold one of their Friendraisers for the family to raise additional funds. The first Friendraiser at the South Florida Hooters location in Pembroke Pines raised over $500 plus a guest at the restaurant made a $3,000 donation. The goal of the family is to raise a total of $42,000 to cover the cost of the device for Maci. The Matia Mobility Tek RMD Electric Lift and Standing Mobility Platform is a revolutionary device that allows individuals with walking disabilities to safely sit, stand, and navigate both indoor and outdoor environments.

In this short time, they have bonded and formed a close friendship. Maci will be joining Gracie on Sunday, December 7 for The Coach Spo's 5K, benefiting Nicklaus Children's. After the 5K event, Gracie, Maci and her family will go to Hooters of Coral Way for a second Friendraiser to support the family’s efforts. The community can help Maci when they dine at Hooters of Coral Way all day on December 7. Just mention the Friendraiser to your server and 20% of your food and beverage sales will be donated. Hooters Coral Way is located at 3301 Coral Way in Miami.

“The Hooters family has generously stepped forward to help raise funds for a Matia Mobility Tek RMD Electric Lift and Standing Mobility Platform for Maci. Maci is currently confined to a wheelchair, but she is growing stronger every day. Standing while being mobile will continue to strengthen her legs, with the hope that she may one day walk again. For Maci, this platform means greater freedom and a smoother daily life. For us, it means hope. Knowing that a local business cares enough to support this journey makes their contribution even more meaningful. This effort is not just about raising money — it’s about community, kindness, and helping Maci move forward to live her best life. For our family, this device is truly life‑changing. It gives Maci the ability to interact more fully and move with freedom, opening doors to experiences that bring strength, independence, and joy,” said her adopted dad Darin Jones.

Darin Jones, a retired Indian River County sheriff's captain, and his wife, Lisa, adopted Maci in August of 2018. They adopted her after her biological mother’s boyfriend beat the child in 2017. The Jones family had met her when she was one years old and when they heard that she was badly injured and needed surgeries it led to them taking her home and adopting her. “I decided no one was going to hurt her and took her home,” added Darin Jones. For anyone not able to make the Friendraiser at Hooters of Miami on Coral Way on December 7, a GoFundMe has been organized for Maci https://gofund.me/f96bdd913 .

Hooters of South Florida, owns and operates 15 locations. For more information about South Florida Hooters please visit www.HootersFlorida.com or follow us at Instagram @SouthFLHooters and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hootersflorida/.

Hooters created the Friendraiser program for local non-profits and charitable organizations to raise additional funds for the community. For local Friendraiser information visit https://hootersflorida.com/friendraisers/.