Hurricane Booster Club Gets $5,000
The Hooters Restaurant in Macon was all decked out in purple and silver on August 6, and the Monticello Purple Hurricanes were treated to hot wings, soft drinks, and other food in celebration of the Monticello Hurricane Booster Club being selected as the recipient of a $5,000 prize given by Hooters and Jon Gruden, ESPN Monday Night Football analyst and former professional football head coach and founder of the FFCA (Fired Football Coaches Association).
It all began last December, said Mike Cavender, one of the Monticello Hurricane volunteer coaches. He and fellow volunteer Pat Barton had gone to the place that means heaven to so many men—Bass Pro Shop. Afterwards, they decided to get a bite to eat, and what better than some Hooters hot wings?
While there, they saw an announcement for a contest for a high school booster club to win $5,000. Entrants had to submit a one minute video promoting Hooters and football. Mr. Cavender said it was during the Christmas break, but he gathered a few football players and they made the video.
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He dubbed in an actual play from a 2012 game, and they submitted it, and promptly forgot about it.
To compete, contestants were asked to upload a video explaining why Hooters is their favorite place to watch games and why their high school booster club deserves to win a $5,000 grant from Hooters and Gruden.
Fast forward six months or so. Mr. Cavender gets a phone call saying he won. He thought it was a hoax; he didn’t remember entering any contest. The caller went on to explain, so Mr. Cavender got excited.
In talking with the management at Hooters, Mr. Cavender was invited to come down, enjoy some food, and collect the prize. However, the more he talked with them, the more excited everyone became, and the whole team, coaches, managers, etc. were invited. In the team photo, the Hooters manager (front, standing, second from right) is dressed in Hurricane purple.
During the team party in Macon, Hooters girls presented the $5,000
check to the Jasper County High Hurricane Booster Club, Inc.
Michael Cavender, who submitted the winning video with the Jasper County High School football coach, also received a $750 Hooters gift card which he shared with the other coaches.
Cavender says that the donation will go a long way in easing the Jasper County High football program budget, in part by helping to purchase a golf cart for the team. The Hooters donation also gave coaches an opportunity to bring in a superior coach to run a two-day offensive clinic for the entire team.
“The video submission competition was a great way to see the pride and devotion high school football fans have for their teams and communities,” said Dave Henninger, chief marketing officer, Hooters of America.
Jasper County High School (JCHS) has another chance for “free money” next week. On Saturday, Aug. 24, Ford will donate money to JCHS for each test drive taken that day. Ford is prepared to donate $6,000 to JCHS if they get 300 people to test drive a Ford that day. Covington Ford in Monticello is coordinating the event.
Wes Crowe, manager, said Ford has also announced an opportunity for the school to win even more money if it submits the winning video in a Ford promotion. He is coordinating that competition with school principal Robyn Mullis.
As for the Hooters donation, the company announcement said, “As a sports-watching destination, Hooters shares the passion for the love of the game and we’re proud to work with a champion like Jon Gruden and the FFCA to give back to the communities we serve.”
Gruden has been a Hooters fan since 1983. During his college days, he served as a wing shaker and oyster shucker at the West Hillsborough Avenue Hooters location in Tampa, Fla. Gruden often looks for ways to pay it forward to the football community and he used the FFCA to team up with Hooters in an effort to give back to the love of the game of football. Football programs at local high schools are in need of financial assistance to aid in the development of student-athletes.
The proceeds from the sale of FFCA-licensed Hooters merchandise will be donated to local high schools to help cover the costs associated with their football programs. For more information about the FFCA, visit www.ffcassn.com.
On the verge of another exciting football season, Hooters is offering a free ESPN Fantasy Football Draft Kit with each fantasy football draft party reservation at any of the more than 400 Hooters locations across the nation. Football fans are invited to register at www.hootersdraftparty.com. To find the nearest Hooters location, visit www.hooters.com.
About Hooters of America, LLC
Hooters of America, LLC is the franchisor and operator of over 412 Hooters restaurants in 44 states and 27 foreign countries. The first Hooters opened in 1983 in Clearwater, Fla. 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.
