 |
Attending an advertising campaign promotion party were: Eric Miller, 17, who had a transplant for aplastic anemia in 2004; his sister, Abby; Mike Simmonds, owner of 73 Burger Kings; Eric’s mother and father, Susan and Gary; and Natalie Simmonds, marketing manager for Simmonds Restaurant Management. |
The “BK Beat Cancer for Kids” promotion is running through July at 68 Burger King locations. The program is an extension of Liz’s Legacy, a fund to advance cancer research and care through the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center. Liz’s Legacy is named after the late Liz Karnes, an Omaha civic leader who died in 2003 after a 12-year battle with cancer.
“We’re thrilled and appreciative to be able to continue this great partnership between Burger King and the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, through the Liz’s Legacy Fund,” said Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center. “It will allow us to continue to increase awareness about cancer and the cancer center in our community, as well as provide much needed research funding for innovative research and treatment. We are thrilled with the growing community support for this program as it spreads further across Nebraska and are looking forward to its continued success.”
As part of the promotion, Burger King customers will be asked if they would like to donate a dollar to “Beat Cancer for Kids.” Upon donating $1, the patrons will receive a scratch card. All of the cards will be redeemable for an item worth at least $1.
Prizes include Burger King menu items as well as special gifts from other sponsors. The grand prize is a vacation trip-for-four to Six-Flags Magic Mountain amusement park and Hurricane Harbor water park in Los Angeles. The trip includes travel on Southwest Airlines and hotel accommodations at the neighboring Hilton Garden Inn.
Several other prizes will be available, including gift certificates and free CDs at Best Buy; drinks from Scooters Coffeehouse; MaggieMoo’s ice cream; and tickets to UNO Hockey, Creighton Soccer and the Lozier IMAX Theatre.
“We are very excited about the second annual ‘BK Beat Cancer for Kids’ promotion,” said Natalie Simmonds, manager of Marketing and Special Projects, Simmonds Restaurant Management, Inc. “It is such a positive program and is well received by our Burger King restaurant teams and customers.
“‘BK Beat Cancer for Kids’ is a unique program that is easy to sell because every card is a winner,” she said. “This year is only going to be bigger and better. We are thrilled with the expansion of this year’s fundraiser to include our outlying Nebraska and Iowa Burger King® locations and to have Horizon Holding Inc. and the Lincoln locations participating.”
 |
One of the families involved in the campaign is the Degante family of Omaha. Clockwise from left: Nancy Degante, her mother, Silvina, father, Jorge, and sister Giselle. |
Said Simmonds, “As friends of the Karnes, I am proud to be a part of this activity. This will help raise money in Liz’s name to benefit children and their families.”
Simmonds has been touched personally by cancer. He was treated successfully for kidney cancer about 2 1/2 years ago. Simmonds said several of his very good friends are dealing with cancer at this time. “We are all very hopeful that research can make a difference,” he said.
“Having all these restaurants…I thought this was a way I could capitalize on raising funds and awareness. I learned last year about this campaign and I was very receptive to a cause of this type. I think this is just the beginning. Last year we raised $40,000 and this year we will raise $100,000,” Mike Simmonds said.
Beat Cancer for Kids has put a personal touch on the program by including six childhood cancer patients and survivors treated at the medical center. One of the children is 8-year-old Nathan Boyle of Norfolk, who was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (cancer of bone marrow and blood) in June 2004. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy.
Boyle and the five other children will be featured in promotional ads televised on KPTM Fox 42 and broadcast on KEFM 96.1 throughout the promotional period.
In addition to Burger King, other sponsors include KPTM Fox 42, KEFM 96.1, Southwest Airlines, Bozell & Jacobs, Hilton Garden Inn, Six Flags, MaggieMoo’s, UNO Hockey, Creighton Soccer, Best Buy, Lozier IMAX Theatre, Scooters Coffeehouse and Art-Fac Graphics.