Helping to Keep the Heat On In Cold Economic Times

Hardee’s Valentine Weekend Fundraiser Exceeds It’s Goal, Raises $70,000 So Far, From the Annual Rise and Shine Heat-Up St. Louis Benefit to Help Area Poor, Seniors and Disabled People with Their Heating Bills.

Despite one of the nation’s worst economies, where thousands of area working class residents are also trying to keep their homes, and also pay their own heating bills, they joined about 400 volunteers, (civic, business, political, media personalities, high school students, social service groups, and even a women’s professional roller derby group) in helping to raise so far more than $70,000, exceeding this year’s goal of $50,000 by $20,000 so far, during the 9th Annual Hardee’s Rise and Shine for Heat-Up St. Louis fundraiser.

Hardee’s Friday the 13th Valentine breakfast fundraiser gave 100% of its proceeds from the sell of its Sausage and Egg Biscuit product priced today only for $1.00, and volunteer canister collections to Heat-Up St. Louis, the regional, all-volunteer energy assistance charity helping to pay heating bills for hundreds of bi-state area poor, elderly and disabled people.

Hardee’s will continue taking canister collections through Sunday at more than 60 restaurants located in the Missouri and Illinois area. Larger on-line donations may still be made on-line at www.heatupstlouis.org or Heat-Up St. Louis, c/o UMB Bank, P.O. Box 868, St. Louis, MO 63188. This year’s campaign of “Have A Heart, Heat A Home” also had St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley as its general campaign chair, Missouri Lt. Governor Peter Kinder, its campaign co-chair, and St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay, the honorary board chair led a group of other state, and local political officials.

Heat-Up officials contribute this year’s promising efforts to the enthusiastic leadership and efforts of the St. Louis electronic and print media, also suffering from an economic downturn. All three major network television affiliates (KSDK, FOX, and CBS), along with Clear Channel, Radio One, Bonneville, Emmis, CBS Radio groups and KTRS all participated in a massive “media road-block” (live cut-ins, interviews, or call-ins) from various Hardee’s locations. KDNL, KPLR, Channel 46, Charter Cable, and Disney Radio also provided on-air promo support. The Suburban Journal also donated some promotional space.

“Without the efforts of the St. Louis media, we never would have exceeded our goal by $20,000, ($50,000) so far,” said Kevin X. McGowan, board president of Heat-Up St. Louis. “These are very tough times, and the public’s generosity came through remarkably well, and the poor should be very indebted, we are.”

St. Louis Aldermanic President Lewis Reed, State Senator Jeff Smith, Chairwoman Melanie Dileo, St. Louis Police Chief Dan Isom, St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson, Kevin McGowan, board president, Hardee’s VP Steve Lemley and MSD Spokesperson Lance LeComb also served as official spokespersons at various Hardee’s locations.

Since its inception, Heat-Up St. Louis has impacted the lives of more than 125,000 people in about 16 Missouri and Illinois counties, including the City of St. Louis and has received donations totally about $3.5 million.

100% of all public donations go towards servicing the needy, as all operational costs are underwritten by a diverse board of directors.