BUFFALO WILD WINGS RAISES OVER $1.1 MILLION FOR YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MOST SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING EFFORT TO DATE
Funds raised from pinups and wristbands purchased in-restaurant throughout October will go to support grants for local Clubs to help kids and teens participate in team sports in 2017
ATLANTA (Thurs, Dec 1, 2016) – In support of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Buffalo Wild Wings® is donating a total of $1.1 million raised during the month of October through the annual Team Up for Kids fundraiser. These funds will go to support Buffalo Wild Wings’ national partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, focused on youth sports programs and select facility improvement projects at Boys & Girls Clubs across the country.
Buffalo Wild Wings’ fundraising campaign was given a boost by a professional football player who visited Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas on the grand opening of its new football facility, supported by Buffalo Wild Wings. During the celebration, the player participated in a national digital spot to raise awareness for the national partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the October fundraiser at all Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants around the country.
Support from Buffalo Wild Wings funds Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s ALL STARS, the leading team sports program hosted at hundreds of local Clubs around the country. The donations help train coaches and provide uniforms and equipment to young athletes, and change the game for many kids and teens, giving them the opportunity to play team sports at their local Club and learn skills that will help them grow into productive, caring and responsible citizens.
Now in its fourth year, Buffalo Wild Wings has donated and raised over $6.7 million through its Team Up for Kids mission for its partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to support ALL STARS grants for hundreds of flag or tackle football, basketball, cheer, and dance teams at Clubs across the country.
“Buffalo Wild Wings understands that belonging to a team early on is an opportunity for young people to learn critical life skills and values,” said Jennifer Bateman, national vice president of program, training and youth development with Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “By supporting our sports programs and facility improvements, the ALL STARS and Team Up for Kids grants are helping kids and teens build self-confidence and life-enhancing skills that will help them succeed on and off the field.”
In 2016, Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s partnership with Buffalo Wild Wings is enabling more than 74,000 kids and teens to participate on teams through ALL STARS. The company also awarded Team Up for Kids grants to 20 Clubs across the country to improve their sports facilities. In total, Buffalo Wild Wings has committed to donating an additional $10 million to Boys & Girls Clubs of America through 2020.
“Our entire system of company-owned and franchised restaurants partnered together with our Guests for another great Team Up for Kids fundraiser that exceeded our expectations,” said Emily Decker, senior vice-president and general counsel of Buffalo Wild Wings. “The success of this fundraiser brings us another step closer to our goal of reaching 450,000 kids and teens by 2020 by providing year-round team sports opportunities.”
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About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 150 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,200 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at http://www.bgca.org/facebook and http://bgca.org/twitter.
About Buffalo Wild Wings and Team Up for Kids
Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc., founded in 1982 and headquartered in Minneapolis, is a growing owner, operator and franchisor of Buffalo Wild Wings® restaurants featuring a variety of boldly-flavored, made-to-order menu items including its namesake Buffalo, New York-style chicken wings. The Buffalo Wild Wings menu specializes in 21 mouth-watering signature sauces and seasonings with flavor sensations ranging from Sweet BBQ™ to Blazin’®. Guests enjoy a welcoming neighborhood atmosphere that includes an extensive multi-media system for watching their favorite sporting events. Buffalo Wild Wings is the recipient of hundreds of "Best Wings" and "Best Sports Bar" awards from across the country. There are currently more than 1,200 Buffalo Wild Wings locations across the world.
Buffalo Wild Wings’ charitable giving mission – TEAM UP FOR KIDS™ – centers on the vision: There is a champion in every child. We are committed to helping build communities where all kids can thrive, compete, and belong to a team. As part of this mission, Buffalo Wild Wings has teamed up with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) to help thousands of kids play on sports teams each year. Buffalo Wild Wings is committed to donating and raising at least $16 million for BGCA by 2020. Guests can join the effort through donations from sauce and seasoning bottle purchases and in-restaurant fundraising events. For more information, visit www.buffalowildwings.com/giving.
To stay up-to-date on all the latest events and offers for sports fans and wing lovers, follow Buffalo Wild Wings on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and visit www.BuffaloWildWings.com.
Contact:
Sara Leutzinger
(404) 487-5624
[email protected]