Despite a Bad COVID Economy, The 22nd Annual Hardee’s “Rise and Shine For Heat” Benefit, Raises So Far, $600,000 A 300% Increase Over It’s Campaign Goal
More than 500 Missouri and Illinois volunteers along with the sale of thousands of Sausage biscuits and Egg biscuits helped raise $600,000 so far. Due to a weakening economy, the 2022 Rise and Shine goal was set at $200,000. The public response has overwhelmed Heatupstlouis.org officials, because the $600,000 so far represents a 300% increase over this year’s campaign goal.
However, participating Hardee’s restaurants in Missouri and Illinois will continue its canister collection drive over the weekend, through Valentine’s day morning. Rev. Earl E. Nance, Jr., treasurer, and chair emeritus encourages those who can give additional dollars to go through a drive-thru and drop off as much dough as they can. The biscuits offering has ended. The public can still go online to make secure donations at Heatupstlouis.org.
It has been a 22-year partnership with Hardee’s and Heatupstlouis.org. The charity also announced that it has set the date for the 23rd Annual Hardee’s Rise and Shine Heat campaign for Friday, February 10, 2023, with new additional fundraising opportunities.
Heatupstlouis.org officials attribute the success so far of Hardee’s giving it almost a month to collect canister funds, and the increase of volunteers during a COVID pandemic, along with an increase in pre-order sales. “Volunteers efforts do make a difference. Hopefully next year, we can obtain 1,000 volunteers from the business, civic, social service, and general community,” said Rev. Earl E Nance. “The St. Louis media has increased its efforts to ensure that area neighbors don’t use unsafe methods of heating, and stay warm this winter, etc.”
Since Heatupstlouis.org’s inception almost 22 years ago, it has impacted the lives of about one million people throughout Missouri and Illinois. This year with the economy and health challenges continuing by the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for energy assistance has skyrocketed, often due to more utility usage, as more people are home during the day.
Today 500 volunteers from the civic, business, religious, first-responders, media and political volunteers led by Tom Trotter, Operating Partner for Capstone Restaurant Group, the franchise group that owns and operates the St. Louis Hardee’s Restaurants; Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, Health Director, St. Louis City; Sandra Moore, Heat-Up Board President-Elect and Managing Director & Chief Impact Officer, Advantage Capital; Missouri Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe; St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann; Mark Kern, St. Clair County Board Chairman; Michael McMillan, President and CEO, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc.; St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell; Denise Liebel, Board Chairwoman, Heat-Up St. Louis, Inc.; Mark Birk, Chairman and President of Ameren Missouri; Tara K. Oglesby, Vice President, Customer Experience, Ameren Missouri; D-Lori Newsome Pitts, Manager of Corporate Contributions, Ameren Corporation; April Ford Griffin, Executive Director, Affordable Housing Commission; City Treasurer Adam Layne; Linda Fritz, Community Services Director, Northeast Community Action Corporation; St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson, Fire Chiefs Association of Greater St. Louis; Reverend Earl E. Nance, Jr., Chair Emeritus and Treasurer; Todd Barnes, Executive Director, Community Council of St. Louis Charles County; and Cenia Bosman, President and CEO, CAASTLC served as greeters and collectors of additional dough in-restaurant and at the area Hardee’s drive-thrus.