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.

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.

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