Hardee’s Stars for Troops campaign benefits USA Cares

A prominent chain of fast-food restaurants has partnered with a national military charity based in Radcliff.

CKE Restaurants Inc., parent company of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s restaurants, recently launched its Stars for Troops campaign to benefit military charities Homes for Our Troops and USA Cares.

As part of the campaign, patrons of the restaurants can contribute to the charities by donating $1. Each dollar earns the donor a commemorative Stars for Troops cut out which they can customize and display at the restaurant, and more than $10 in restaurant coupons.

The promotion launched this week at Hardee’s and runs for three weeks. Proceeds will be divided evenly between the two organizations, said Kathleen Fleck, marketing and development manager for USA Cares.

“We set lofty fundraising goals for previous fundraising campaigns, but I have faith in the American public and know that our consumers are generous of heart,” Andrew F. Puzder, chief executive officer of CKE Restaurants, said in a written statement. “I have high hopes that we can achieve the same great results for veterans and military personnel that we have in the past with our charitable programs.”

CKE Restaurants raised more than $4 million for breast cancer screenings and research during a six-year span, more than $1 million for the effort in 2009 and 2010, according to a news release issued by USA Cares.

CKE said cut outs distributed to customers will combine the Happy Star logo of both restaurant brands with stars and stripes representing the American flag. They will  be lined up point to point on restaurant walls “as both a symbol and a reminder of how we can join together as a force to support those who have dedicated their lives to serve and protect us,” according to the statement.

Fleck said USA Cares is excited about the campaign and its potential. National exposure provided by the partnership with the two restaurants is invaluable, she added.

On a quirkier note, the restaurants are auctioning a turkey burger-print bikini autographed by Gizem Memic, Miss Turkey 2010, to benefit the military charities. It is one of three custom designs of the bikini made to promote the restaurants’ new turkey burger, according to the Los Angeles Times. The auction closes Sunday.

“It’s kind of a gimmick, but it’s cute,” Fleck said.

Bill Nelson, executive director of USA Cares, said the promotion helps in multiple ways.

“The Stars for Troops campaign raises not only much-needed funds to support these families who have fallen between the cracks of the government support structure, but also to raise public awareness of the thousands of brave men and women who sacrificed their health in the name of our freedom,” he said.

Marty Finley can be reached at (270) 505-1762 or mfinley@thenewsenterprise.com.

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