Hardee's Helps Special Olympics VA Raise Funds for Athletes to Attend Summer Games

From Special Olympics Virginia:

FREDERICKSBURG, VA - Hardee’s® restaurants operated by Boddie-Noell Enterprises across Virginia will join forces with the law enforcement community to raise awareness and funds to help Special Olympics athletes shine. Starting Monday, October 17, Hardee’s customers who pay $1 for a Star will receive a coupon sheet good for a $10 savings on specific Hardee’s menu items.

The five-week fundraising campaign is slated to help more than 550 Special Olympics athletes participate in the 2017 Summer Games. Last year, Hardee’s across the state owned and operated by Boddie-Noell raised more than $97,640 for Special Olympics Virginia through the sale of Stars. This year’s campaign runs through November 20.

Boddie-Noell Enterprises, the largest Hardee’s franchise operator in the United States, has been partners with Special Olympics Virginia for 36 years, contributing in excess of $1.5 million to the organization during that time. Boddie-Noell owns and operates all 176 Hardee’s franchise restaurants across Virginia.

This year’s in-store campaign theme is “Flame of Hope. Keep it Bright!” The campaign will be supported by law enforcement officers who run a lighted torch across the state to build awareness of the annual Special Olympics Virginia Summer Games each June.

"For many of our athletes, Special Olympics is their world. Purchasing a star provides a source of hope and light for children and adults who experience a great deal of loneliness and rejection," said Rick Jeffrey, president of Special Olympics Virginia. "We thank longtime partners like Boddie-Noell for supporting the extraordinary efforts of our law enforcement volunteers and our champion athletes in Virginia."

“We’re excited to continue our annual support of Special Olympics Virginia as we and our loyal customers have done for over three decades,” said Terry Lewis, president of Boddie-Noell’s Hardee’s Restaurant Operations and a board member of Special Olympics Virginia. “The role of Special Olympics across Virginia is special and our customers have always stepped forward with contributions at our Hardee’s locations year after year. We hope to make 2016 the most successful fundraiser to date.”

In addition to the 2016 fall fundraiser, in 2017 Boddie-Noell will become the newest Presenting Sponsor of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Virginia as well as a Presenting Sponsor of the Summer Games in mid-June.

For more information, visit www.specialolympicsva.org.

Image via Special Olympics Virginia.