Heat-Up St. Louis Obtains $237,000 In Grants and Donations During Hardee’s 10th Annual Hardee’s Rise and Shine Event

During the 10th Annual Hardee’s Rise and Shine for Heat-Up benefit, on Friday morning (from 5:00  a.m. until 11:00 a.m.), a record-breaking 500 volunteers served as celebrity greeters in about 60 area Missouri and Illinois Hardee’s restaurants, requesting extra tax-deductible donations.  So, far the Hardee’s efforts have raised about $85,000 in a Friday morning only offering of the sell of Sausage and Egg Biscuit sandwiches for a special price of $1.00, and extra tips collected by the volunteers.

Also, the regional charity was officially notified today that the City of St. Louis has given it a $152,000 grant to help local qualified seniors, disabled and low-income people with their winter utility bills. The grant was made possible through the City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

Due to the shortage of funds from a federal energy assistance program; and the Utilicare program in Missouri not being funded, so far this year, Hardee’s is extending a special ONLY canister collection drive in its units through Monday, at 2:00 p.m. in Missouri and Illinois.

Larger tax-deductible donations may still be given on-line at the secured website at www.heatupstlouis.org, or by making a check payable to Heat-Up St. Louis, Inc., c/o UMB Bank, P.O. Box 868, St. Louis, MO 63188.   To qualify for utility assistance, you must be an elderly, disabled and low-income person, and should call 314-241-7668 or log-on to www.heatupstlouis.org.

Melanie DiLeo, board chairwoman of the all-volunteer board of directors expressed sincere appreciation to St. Louis City Mayor Francis Slay for his faith in Heat-Up St. Louis’ ability to serve as a critical safety net for the region, and the overwhelming generosity of Hardee’s and its customers, and the unprecedented enthusiastic support of all of the area’s electronic media with live remotes and cut-ins stories during the breakfast time period at Hardee’s, as well as heavy PSA and print support.