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Posts Tagged ‘Wake Forest’

Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® Announces 2011 Freedom Month Events

Friday, July 1st, 2011

July 19, 2011 Update: Due to a delay in receiving the decals for our Week 3 event, we’ll be switching the order of our Week 3 and Week 4 campaigns! Thanks for your continued interest and for helping SCNB support our armed forces and their families!

Annual event expanded to last entire month of July, highlights commitment to recognizing and appreciating those who serve

Cary, NC – Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® (SCNB) is proud to announce plans for the North Carolina-based restaurant brand’s annual “Freedom Week” campaign have been increased this year to last throughout the entire month of July, being dubbed “Freedom Month”. The event, held each summer around the July 4th holiday to recognize and appreciate those who serve our country domestically and abroad in the United States armed forces, will include four unique ways for fans of the restaurant brand to participate.

For 2011, the Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® Freedom Week campaign includes four signature events: the second annual Freedom Run 5K, a week-long online fundraising event to benefit Operation Homefront, a “Free Tea” week, and last, but certainly not least, a final week-long event during which a military family will win a “Coming Home” party prize pack for 20 people.

Week 1 – Freedom Run 5K – Wake Forest
Join Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q®, sponsors of the Freedom Run 5K, in Downtown Wake Forest on Saturday, July 2, 2011, at 8:00am to show your support for our veterans past and present and active military by participating in this family-friendly 5K competitive/recreational run. This year’s Freedom Run proceeds are going to the Fisher House, the Semper Fi Fund, and various other organizations that Wake Forest’s American Legion Auxiliary Unit 187 supports. Both the Fisher House and Semper Fi Fund are located at Camp Lejuene. Race details are available online at http://www.RunNC.com (under “Race Schedule”), or for more information, please contact Anne at 5kfreedomrun@gmail.com.

SCNB Supports Operation Homefront North CarolinaWeek 2 – Photo Fundraiser Event – Online
Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q’s fundraising efforts for the 2011 Freedom Month campaign will focus on military families. In conjunction with Operation Homefront of North Carolina (http://www.OHFNC.org), Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® will donate $1.00 for every picture posted on the SCNB facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/SCNBNC) of a loved one serving in the armed forces overseas or posted to twitter (http://www.twitter.com) with the hashtag #GratefultoServe.

SCNB Freedom Week DecalWeek 3 – We Support Our Troops – 32 North Carolina Locations
Customers who visit one of Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q®‘s 32 North Carolina locations (http://www.scnbnc.com/locations.php) between Monday, July 18, 2011 and Sunday, July 24, 2011 will receive a “Support Our Troops” decal (pictured at right) with a peel-off coupon on the back for a free gallon of SCNB’s famous sweet iced tea.

Week 4 – Nominate a Military Family to Receive a 20-Person “Coming Home” Party Pack – Online
Visitors to http://www.SCNBNC.com are encouraged to submit a brief nomination or story about a military family they know who has a family member deployed overseas. Each day, Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® will share a few of the best submissions online (anonymously, if requested by the submitting party) and on July 31, 2011, one submission will be selected, at random, to receive a 20-person “Coming Home” party pack, which includes five pints of bar-b-q, 30 pieces of fried chicken, five pints of cole slaw, five pints of potato salad, 10 dozen hushpuppies, two gallons of tea, and place settings for 20 guests.

“Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q has a longstanding, rich history of being ‘grateful to serve’,” says Richard Averitte, Marketing Director for Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q. “Especially when it comes to serving, supporting, recognizing, and appreciating the tireless work of the men and women who serve our country here and abroad. That recognition and appreciation extends to their families, as well – they are the frontline of support for members of our armed forces and we are grateful for the sacrifices they continue to make every day.”

For more information on Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q®, please visit http://www.SCNBNC.com, visit the brand’s facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/SCNBNC, or stay updated with tweets from @SCNBNC on twitter (http://www.twitter.com/SCNBNC).

About Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q
Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q has a 40-year history of serving the finest fried chicken and Eastern-North-Carolina-style Bar-B-Q, made fresh daily from family recipes and served in a family-friendly atmosphere. Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q has over 30 locations in North Carolina as well as an online store where BBQ can be ordered and shipped anywhere in the United States. Visit http://www.SCNBNC.com/ for more information or call 919-852-1742.

Contact: Richard Averitte, Marketing Director, Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q
Phone: 919-852-1722 | Fax: 919-852-5268 | Email: RAveritte@SCNBNC.com
Web: http://www.SCNBNC.com | Mail: P.O. Box 979 – Cary, NC 27512

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Posted in Community, contests, events, grateful to serve, locations, News and Press Releases, SCNB Around the World, special savings | 1 Comment »

Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® Teams Up with the Bald Entrepreneurs for 2011 St. Baldrick’s Fundraising

Thursday, March 3rd, 2011

Fundraising team continues “After-Shave” Party tradition with support of Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q
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(Cary, NC) – Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® (SCNB) is proud to announce that the North Carolina-based restaurant brand is once again supporting local St. Baldrick’s team, the Bald Entrepreneurs, during their 2011 fundraising year efforts which will contribute much-needed funds to research focused on eliminating childhood cancers.

The team at Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® have always known that “it’s just not a tailgate without Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q”, and the Bald Entrepreneurs have proved that the same goes for an “After-Shave” Party. Smithfield’s will be providing fresh bar-b-q, delicious side items, and crowd favorites – hush puppies and sweet tea – for the team’s post-shave party that will continue raising funds even after the day’s shave event. The Bald Entrepreneur team has grown so much over the past few years that they will be hosting their own event at The Factory in Wake Forest on Saturday, March 6th from 12:00pm until 6:00pm, with the “After-Shave” Party taking place from 6:30pm until 9:30pm. The team’s theme for 2011 is “Going Bald So Kids Don’t Have To”.

“Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q is happy to continue to be part of this most worthy cause. The Bald Entrepreneurs do an amazing job every year of serving others and we are grateful to be able to support them in their work”, says Richard Averitte, Marketing Director for Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q. “Each year this group sets new goals for their team and they are inspiring to everyone touched by their mission to help eliminate childhood cancers.”

The Bald Entrepreneurs have set a fundraising goal of $60,000. To assist The Bald Entrepreneurs with their fundraising, Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® will be donating 25¢ for each tweet that includes the hashtag “#BarBQforBaldricks” that is posted on Twitter on Saturday, March 5, 2011, from 12:01am EST until 11:59pm EST.

To find out more or to donate to the Bald Entrepreneurs team, visit their official team page at http://www.stbaldricks.org/events/thefactory2011. Chris Wright, founder of the Bald Entrepreneurs team, provided strong statistics for supporting the group and its participation in the St. Baldrick’s program: between 2005 and 2009, St. Baldrick’s has issued nearly $42 million in research grants ($12 million in 2009 alone) and funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any other organization, except the U.S. government.

According to the St. Baldrick’s website, on March 17, 2000, three insurance executives Tim Kenny, John Bender, and Enda McDonnell turned their industry’s St. Patrick’s Day party into a benefit for kids with cancer. The three planned to raise “$17,000 on the 17th,” recruiting 17 colleagues to raise $1,000 each to be shorn. Instead, the first St. Baldrick’s event raised over $104,000! Volunteers shave their heads in solidarity with kids fighting cancer and family and friends give generously – worldwide. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation uses the donations to fund more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the United States Government.

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Grateful to Serve Those Who Serve

Monday, July 5th, 2010

Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® (SCNB) is putting the service front and center during “Freedom Week” this summer. Not just customer service—the military service.

Tradition. Service. Families getting together. It doesn’t get much better than celebrating being reunited – just add bar-b-q and some sweet tea.

Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® is taking this service promotion to a whole new level.

Like its authentic Eastern style bar-b-q—with a savory, vinegary flavor— Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® has a unique and longstanding relationship with the armed forces. With locations in all the military hot spots across North Carolina, the restaurant brand has long served the troops with the motto “grateful to serve those who serve.” The restaurant has developed a strong base of real bar-b-q fans, both in its 33 locations across North Carolina, and from Coast to Coast who order it online.

Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® sends bar-b-q all over the map through its online store, and this year’s Freedom Week campaign encompasses the internet in a whole new way for the company. Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® kicked off its annual seven day “Freedom Week” campaign for its restaurants on July 2nd, focusing efforts on one initiative—supporting the troops. Via its huge social media following, the company is undertaking a pretty audacious goal in its Twitter campaign: Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® will donate 10¢ to the Wounded Warriors Project for every mention or retweet of #FreedomWeek (that’s a Twitter “hashtag”, used to monitor topics on the microblogging service) during Freedom Week (July 2nd-July 9th).

The Wounded Warriors Project raises awareness and assistance for the needs of severely injured service men and women with the objective to provide tangible support to get them on the road to healing, both physically and mentally.

“Much like a backyard bar-b-q, our military also has a unique quality that brings people together,” said Richard Averitte, Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® Marketing Director. “People rally around our troops, as they should, and we are so pleased to be able to help facilitate that community connection—not just in our own North Carolina community, but across the country by means of the internet!”

In fact the brand has truly fostered a tremendous network through its blog, social media efforts, and face-to-face relationships with repeat customers. One of those loyal customers also happens to be former Marine Jen (Schmidt) McGillis. McGillis became a “fan” on Facebook, shared her story with Averitte, and an idea grew.

McGillis founded Military Ride Share, which is dedicated to “helping military members who are going in the same direction, ride together and hopefully save some green.” Since the site’s launch, over 600 service members or their family members have signed up with representation in all branches of service, including the Coast Guard. “Having taken pains to determine the best way to ship bar-b-q all over the country, it just made sense to me for Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® to aid McGillis’ efforts in facilitating the movement of troops around the country—and eventually home,” said Averitte.

There’s a Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® near every military base in North Carolina, and this summer is a hot one—perfect for a summer picnic or just gathering together. Join Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q®’s efforts in supporting the troops and bringing people together. A simple “tweet” will help bring healing to those who serve to help keep America free.

Pictures below are from the very first Freedom Run 5K that took place on Saturday, July 3rd, 2010, in Wake Forest, NC. Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® was honored to serve as a sponsor for this event – supporting our neighbors in service during the holiday weekend. To see more pictures from this event, please visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/scnbnc/sets/72157624421074184/.

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Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q(R) Supports the Bald Entrepreneurs during 2010 St. Baldrick’s Event

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® Supports the Bald Entrepreneurs during 2010 St. Baldrick’s Event
Fundraising team proves that it’s just not an “After-Shave” Party without Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q

(Cary, NC) – Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® (SCNB) is proud to announce that the North Carolina-based restaurant brand was once again able to support local St. Baldrick’s team, the Bald Entrepreneurs, this year in their efforts to raise money for research focused on eliminating childhood cancers.

The team at Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® have always known that “it’s just not a tailgate without Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q”, and the Bald Entrepreneurs have proved that the same goes for an “After-Shave” Party. Smithfield’s provided fresh bar-b-q, delicious side items, and crowd favorites – hush puppies and sweet tea – for the team’s post-shave party that continued raising funds even after the day’s earlier shave event. Fundraisers shaved their heads at The Hibernian’s annual fundraiser event on Saturday, February 27th, 2010. Smithfield’s provided goodie bags for the 60 team members who shaved their heads that included gift certificates, shirts, and koozies.

“Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q is happy to be part of this most worthy cause. As we are grateful to serve our customers, we are also grateful to serve our community”, says Richard Averitte, Marketing Director for Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q. “The Bald Entrepreneurs team provides a tremendous amount of support to the St. Baldrick’s program and we are happy to be a part of that effort.”

The Bald Entrepreneurs surpassed their fundraising goal of $35,000 and are now on their way to the $39,000 mark. To find out more or to donate to the Bald Entrepreneurs team, visit their official team page at http://www.stbaldricks.org/teams/baldentrepreneurs. Chris Wright, founder of the Bald Entrepreneurs team, noted some strong statistics for supporting the group and its participation the in St. Baldrick’s program. Between 2005 and 2009, St. Baldrick’s has issued nearly $42 million in research grants ($12 million in 2009 alone) and funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any other organization, except the U.S. government. The Bald Entrepreneurs team made up approximately 11% of the shaves at the local event yet captured nearly 20% of all donations for the Hibernian Restaurant & Pub.

According to the St. Baldrick’s website, on March 17, 2000, reinsurance executives Tim Kenny, John Bender, and Enda McDonnell turned their industry’s St. Patrick’s Day party into a benefit for kids with cancer. The three planned to raise “$17,000 on the 17th,” recruiting 17 colleagues to raise $1,000 each to be shorn. Instead, the first St. Baldrick’s event raised over $104,000! Volunteers shave their heads in solidarity with kids fighting cancer and family and friends give generously – worldwide.  The St. Baldrick’s Foundation uses the donations to fund more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the United States Government.

About Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q
Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q has a 40-year history serving the finest fried chicken and Eastern-North-Carolina-style Bar-B-Q, made fresh daily from family recipes and served in a family-friendly atmosphere. Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q has over 30 locations in North Carolina as well as an online store where BBQ can be ordered and shipped anywhere in the United States. Visit http://www.SCNBNC.com/ for more information or call 919-852-1742.

Contact: Richard Averitte, Marketing Director – Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q
Phone:     919-852-1722         Fax: 919-852-5268
Email:      RAveritte@SCNBNC.com
Web:       http://www.SCNBNC.com
Mail:       P.O. Box 979 – Cary, NC 27512

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