Hooters Raises $200,000 toward Breast Cancer Research in the Name of Late Hooters Calendar Cover Girl, Kelly Jo Dowd

News provided by

Oct 12, 2011, 08:00 ET

ATLANTA, Oct. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- For the past 6 years Hooters has been committed to raising money and awareness for breast cancer research, and in doing so has donated over $2 Million to the V Foundation for Cancer Research and the Kelly Jo Dowd Breast Cancer Research Grant. This year in support of the effort, Hooters presented a $200,000 check to Nick Valvano, President of the V Foundation for Cancer Research and Dick Vitale, College Basketball Analyst and spokesperson for the foundation.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111012/CL82446LOGO )

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100930/CL73865LOGO )

Earlier this year, every domestic Hooters location held local fundraising events to raise money for the cause, established in honor of Kelly Jo Dowd, Hooters Calendar Cover Girl and manager who lost the battle to breast cancer in 2007.

Kelly Jo spent the last years of her life educating the Hooters Girls and family of the importance of breast cancer awareness and early detection. Before she passed, Hooters established a grant in her name through the V Foundation for Cancer Research and made a promise to Kelly Jo to carry on her mission to educate her extended family including 17,000 current Hooters Girls about the importance of breast cancer awareness.

As part of the fundraising effort, an awareness DVD featuring a testimonial from Kelly Jo and former Hooters Calendar Girl and Hooters Magazine Cover Girl, Janine Vollmer, who was also diagnosed with breast cancer, is sent to every Hooters location to educate Hooters employees to help prevent the 1 in 8 women who will statistically be affected by breast cancer.

About Hooters of America, LLC

Hooters of America, LLC is the franchisor and operator of over 430 Hooters restaurants in 42 states and 27 foreign countries. The first Hooters opened in 1983 in Clearwater, Florida. Hooters is well-known for its brand of food and fun, featuring a casual beach-theme atmosphere, a menu that features seafood, sandwiches and Hooters nearly world famous chicken wings, and service provided by the All-American cheerleaders, the Hooters Girls. For more information about Hooters visit www.hooters.com. Find us on www.Facebook.com/Hooters and www.Twitter.com/Hooters.

About Kelly Jo Dowd

Kelly Jo Dowd was one of the original Hooters Girls, graced the cover of the 1995 Hooters Calendar and worked her way up the Hooters ranks to manager of the location in Palm Harbor, Florida. In 2002, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and despite radical and aggressive treatment, she lost the battle to the dreaded disease in 2007. Her story received national attention when ESPN covered her daughter, Dakoda Dowd, playing in an LPGA event to fulfill her mother's wish.

SOURCE Hooters of America, LLC