Hardee’s to Help Special Olympcis Virginia Raise Funds and Awareness for its Athletes

Fall Fundraiser Kicks Off Statewide Sept. 30

RICHMOND, Va. (Sept. 26, 2014) – On Sept. 30 Hardee’s® restaurants operated by Boddie-Noell Enterprises across the state will begin the sale of $1 and $5 Stars to raise money for Special Olympics Virginia. The annual fundraiser called, “When You Give, We All Win” features Nick, a regular participant in the Summer Games Fun Run for Young Athletes.

The four-week fundraising campaign is slated to help more than 650 Special Olympics athletes participate in the 2015 edition of this annual community event. Last year, Hardee’s owned and operated by Boddie-Noell raised more than $74,000 for Special Olympics Virginia.

Boddie-Noell Enterprises, the largest Hardee’s franchise operator in the United States, has been partners with the Special Olympics Virginia for 34 years, contributing in excess of $1 million to the organization over this time. Boddie-Noell owns and operates all 174 Hardee’s franchise restaurants across Virginia.

“Athletes like Nick face a number of foes and opponents each day but none is more pervasive than low expectations,” said Rick Jeffrey, president of Special Olympics Virginia. “We thank longtime partners like Boddie-Noell for helping us to reach new athletes, fans and families as we seek to significantly expand our school-based programs in Virginia.”

“We always look forward to supporting Special Olympics Virginia,” said Jerry Allsbrook, chief marketing officer for Boddie-Noell and a board member of Special Olympics Virginia. “The role of Special Olympics across Virginia is invaluable and our customers across the Commonwealth have stepped forward with contributions at our Hardee’s locations year after year. We hope to make 2014 the most successful fundraiser to date.”

In addition to the 2014 Fall fundraiser, in 2015 Boddie-Noell will sponsor the Polar Plunge Winter Festival in Virginia Beach on Feb. 6 and 7 as well as the Summer Games in Richmond on June 12 and 13.

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Participation provides them with continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

To learn more about the Special Olympics Virginia please visit www.specialolympicsva.org.

About Boddie-Noell Enterprises
Family-owned Boddie-Noell Enterprises (BNE) has been a Hardee’s franchise operator continuously for more than 50 years. Today BNE is the largest Hardee’s franchisee in the United States with 334 restaurants across four states (Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky and South Carolina). The company employs more than 10,000 people and is headquartered in Rocky Mount, N.C. For more information about the company, visit www.bneinc.com.

About Special Olympics
Special Olympics Virginia is an accredited state program of Special Olympics Incorporated.  Special Olympics is an international organization that unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sports everyday around the world. Through work in sports, health, education and community building, Special Olympics is addressing inactivity, injustice, intolerance and social isolation by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities which leads to a more welcoming and inclusive society. Engage with us on Twitter @solympicsva; fb.com/specialolympicsvirginia; and youtube.com/specialolympicsva