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Spring 2018 : Popular Texas restaurant chain raises money for MD Anderson

Popular Texas restaurant chain raises money for MD Anderson

Pappas restaurants in Texas held a two-week End Cancer campaign in January to raise money to support cancer research at MD Anderson. Since 2015, Pappas has raised more than $480,000 for MD Anderson through customer donations and the restaurant’s matching funds.

BY Leslie Friedman

Through colorful displays, incentives and employee interactions with guests, Pappas has raised more than $480,000 through its End Cancer campaign. Photo by Adolfo Chavez III

Whether enjoying barbecue, burgers or Baja fish tacos, diners at Pappas restaurants in Texas gave back to MD Anderson during the company's two-week End Cancer campaign in January.

The Houston-based, family-owned business includes nine brands offering an array of cuisines including Cajun, Greek and Tex-Mex. Since 2015, Pappas restaurants has raised more than $480,000 to support cancer research at MD Anderson through customer donations and the restaurants' matching funds. This year's campaign raised $155,000 in support of the Moon Shots Program™, with Pappas matching all donations up to $75,000.

Vicky Pappas, a member of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors and instrumental in initiating the Pappas End Cancer campaign, says Pappas Restaurants was delighted to offer the campaign for the third consecutive year.

"Pappas Restaurants is committed to making a positive difference in the communities where our employees and guests live and work," she says. "Like many families, ours has watched a loved one battle cancer, and we want to fight to end it. That gave birth to the End Cancer campaign, with the opportunity to raise money and awareness for MD Anderson."

Each guest who donated $1 or more received an MD Anderson collector's cup and a sticker on which to write the names of loved ones touched by cancer. The stickers were placed on large display boards at the restaurants.

Pappas Steakhouse offered an additional promotion through Feb. 3, donating a portion of proceeds from the sale of a specialty dessert.

Employees expressed a sense of pride and determination while helping raise money for MD Anderson.

Alondra Garcia, a server/trainer at Pappasito's Cantina, is grateful to have overcome cancer.

"I became an official cancer survivor on Jan. 25, 2017, and I now see life from a totally different perspective," she says. "I don't take waking up every morning for granted."

Learn more about Pappas' End Cancer campaign in the below video.

Pappas Restaurants raises funds to End Cancer

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