Franchise-Wide Quack Gives Back Fundraiser Will Benefit Over 55 Children’s Hospitals this Year
MECHANICSBURG, PA (Sept. 2, 2021) – Duck Donuts has launched its fifth annual franchise-wide Quack Gives Back Campaign supporting Gabe’s Chemo Duck Program, a Nashville-based nonprofit whose mission is to help alleviate fear and anxiety in children undergoing cancer treatment. Throughout September, Duck Donuts’ guests can help provide huggable hope to families who are fighting childhood cancer by simply donating a dollar at checkout.
Each guest who donates will write their name on a ribbon icon that will be proudly displayed in the store for the duration of the month. As an added thank you, donors will also receive a coupon for a free donut during their next visit.
The Chemo Duck Program is a unique educational program that includes a 12-inch, soft “Chemo Duck” used for medical play therapy; a bilingual companion overview book; an activity book; and an educational DVD that includes a cartoon about the program.
“We are very humbled to be partnering with Gabe’s Chemo Duck Program for the fifth year in a row,” said Betsy Hamm, CEO of Duck Donuts. “This is a wonderful resource that provides a huggable buddy of hope for the brave young children battling cancer and their families as they navigate this difficult time together. I am confident our franchise partners will put a strong effort behind raising as much as possible to support their local community and make our 5th campaign the best one yet!”
The franchise-wide campaign takes place each September during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month with this year’s campaign benefiting more than 55 children’s hospitals in the communities the franchise locations serve. Duck Donuts has been a proud national sponsor of the program for the past five years. Thanks in part to the company’s generous guests, $210,000 has been raised to date.
“Gabe and I are so thankful for the continued support Duck Donuts has provided as a national sponsor over the past five years,” said Lu Sipos, founder and CEO of Gabe’s Chemo Duck Program. “Countless children living with cancer have benefitted from the program, and thanks to the kindness and compassion of Duck Donuts and their customers so will many more.”
ABOUT DUCK DONUTS
Duck Donuts opened its first locations in 2007 in the beach resort towns of Duck and Kitty Hawk, North Carolina with the intention to create an oasis for vacationers to enjoy warm, delicious, made-to-order donuts. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, the company began franchising in 2013, and prides itself on sprinkling happiness to its guests through its unique in-store experience, exceptional guest service and a duckzillion donut combinations. As one of the fastest-growing donut franchise companies, Duck Donuts has more than 100 locally owned and operated shops across 21 states and international locations in Dubai, UAE and Riyadh, KSA. For more information, visit www.duckdonuts.com.
ABOUT GABE’S CHEMO DUCK PROGRAM
Gabe’s Chemo Duck Program is a Nashville-based nonprofit organization established in 2004 to provide education and comfort to children living with cancer through medical play using therapeutic tools. The goal of the program is to enable hospital staff and parents to prepare children for chemotherapy treatment and eliminate the fear of the unknown.
Chemo Duck is a stuffed yellow duck dressed in blue hospital scrubs with a bandana around its head, a chemotherapy port on its chest and an immobilizer on his arm. In a gentle, age-appropriate manner, children learn what to expect during cancer treatment and have a friend to share the experience. In turn, children can use Chemo Duck to help friends, siblings and classmates to understand and empathize with their experience.
Hospitals Supported by Duck Donuts’ Gabe’s Chemo Duck Program Campaign:
Phoenix Children's Hospital
Children’s Hospital of Orange County
Nemours Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders
Broward Health
Wolfson Children's Hospital
Golisano Children's Hospital of SW Florida
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Dwaine & Cynthia Willett Children's Hospital of Savannah
Saint Luke's Cancer Institute: Boise
Primary Children’s Hospital
Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics
Norton Children's Hospital
John Hopkins University/Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center
Pediatric Oncology Branch
Skandalaris Family Center for Children with Cancer & Blood Disorders
Masonic Cancer Center
St. Louis Children's Hospital
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
St. Christopher's Hospital for Children
Hackensack University Medical Center
Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital
Stony Brook University Medicine
Albany Medical Center
Brenner Children's Hospital
Atrium Health Levine Children's Institute
Duke University Medical Center
James and Connie Maynard Children's Hospital
Mission Hospital-Memorial Campus
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Dayton Children's Hospital
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital
Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Geisinger Medical Center
Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital
Nemours Children’s Health
Penn State Children's Hospital
San Jorge Children's Hospital
Bi-Lo Children’s Cancer Center at Greenville Memorial Hospital
Prisma Health
The Medical University of South Carolina
Palmetto Health
East Tennessee Children's Hospital
T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital
Vanderbilt Children's Hospital
Dells Children's Medical Center of Central Texas
Methodist Children's Hospital
Riverton Hospital
Carilion Clinic
Children's Hospital-King's Daughters
Inova Fairfax Medical Campus
UVA Children's Hospital