Operation Gratitude
Checkers/Rally’s is dedicated to letting our U.S. troops know how much we support them. To that end, we joined Operation Gratitude’s Patriotic Drive in May of 2006 to help send more than 40,000 care packages to U.S. military men and women deployed throughout the world.
The results of the drive were tremendous. Checkers/Rally’s guests donated hundreds of boxes of gifts at our restaurants including CDs and DVDs, battery operated fans, beef jerky and other snacks. Our guests also wrote heartfelt letters of support to the troops.
In addition to guest donations, several other businesses joined the Patriotic Drive after learning about the program through the television, radio and newspaper publicity that Checkers/Rally’s generated for Operation Gratitude. These donations included:
- Tide: 50,000 Tide Coldwater product samples
- Pure Records: 2,500 CDs
- H&H Foods, Inc: 1,272 packaged food items
- Hershey’s: 20,000 Jolly Rancher hard candies and 100 T-shirts
- Masterfoods USA: 10,000 sample size Starbursts candies
- RC2: 2,000 Ford and Chevy Racing hats
Checkers/Rally’s was also honored to host more than 100 returning military men and women at the Richmond 400® and the Indianapolis 500®. At these races, troops received exclusive behind-the-scenes pit and garage tours, full hospitality and tickets to the races, as well as the opportunity to participate in the pre-race ceremonies. During the Richmond race, Checkers/Rally’s donated $10,000 to Operation Gratitude to help pay international shipping costs for the Patriotic Drive care packages.
DHL generously served as the Official Shipping Partner for Checkers/Rally’s participation in the Patriotic Drive. We became involved with Operation Gratitude through a corporate partnership with America Supports You.
Thank you to all of our franchisees and guests who participated in this program. For more information about Operation Gratitude, please visit www.operationgratitude.com.
