MEMBER NEWS
10th Annual Stars behind the Jars Brings Holiday Cheer
to Local Children’s Hospital
T
he Cekander Group’s Buffalo Wild Wings® in Bloomington,
Illinois, hosted the culmination to the 10th annual“Stars
behind the Jars”charity event Dec. 9. Bartender Jay Bysina has
organized the event for the past several years at Buffalo Wild
Wings®, in conjunction with a few other local restaurants, to
raise money to buy presents for children in need.
Every November, each participating restaurant receives a jar
along with a note encouraging employees to donate a portion of
their tips during the holiday season. A final party at Buffalo Wild
Wings® wraps up the charitable drive with Bysina and several
other servers donating 100 percent of their tips to the cause.
More than 200 guests attended the final celebration,
including Buffalo Wild Wings® CEO and President Sally Smith
and Executive Vice President Judith Shoulak. While waiting
for the big reveal of the total amount raised, patrons enjoyed
snacks and the chance to further support the cause by partaking
in a raffle to win prizes.
L-R: Jay Bysina stands with
general manager Casie
Vogelsang, his daughters and server Danielle
Krizman at Children’s
Hospital of Illinois, showcasing the toys purchased
with contributions from
the 10th annual Stars
behind the Jars event.
The 2014 “Stars behind the Jars”effort earned an impressive $4,000, which was used to purchase toys to spread a little
holiday cheer to patients at Children’s Hospital of Illinois.
Bysina and a few other employees hand delivered a tablet to
a child who recently learned he would be spending the holidays in the hospital. After delivering the tablet, the employees
wanted to give a little something extra and decided to bring
something much more flavorful than hospital cuisine back; so
they returned later that day with some wings for him and his
family to enjoy. S
Scarlet & Gray Enterprises’ Humane Heart
T
he Scarlet & Gray Enterprises Buffalo Wild Wings®
of Charleston, West Virginia, is no stranger to
fundraisers to support all different walks of life; even if
those in need walk on all fours. The Corridor G location hosted a fundraiser for the Kanawha Charleston
Humane Association from 12-4 p.m., Saturday, Jan.
24. The shelter took in dozens of dogs that week due to several
animal cruelty cases and the restaurant’s general manager, John
Beebe, saw an opportunity to help.
For a fundraiser of this nature, the animals would typically be brought out to the patio so customers could see the
animals they were making a positive impact on (and even adopt).
However, this year was a little too cold to make anyone, fur or no
fur, stand outside. Although there weren’t any animals present; a
table lined with informational pamphlets was set up in the store
along with a donation box to encourage further
contributions.
That afternoon, the location donated 15
percent of its sales to the shelter along with
customer donations, including a $200 check from
one patron! Through the combined efforts of
benevolent customers and staff, they raised more than $570 for
the Humane Association. A local news station even came out to
help promote the event by airing a segment the morning before
the event.
“I believe there are two ways to make a fundraiser successful:
Pick something that you would do on your personal time and
make it something that you and the staff enjoy,”revealed Beebe.
His tactics certainly proved their worth as the restaurant hosted a
successful fundraiser for, and enjoyed by, the local community. S
Times Square Hosts Meet and Greet with Legendary Soccer Star Raúl
T
he New York Cosmos, an American professional soccer club,
proudly welcomed Raúl González Blanco to their team by
hosting a meet and greet event at the Buffalo Wild Wings® in
2015 Issue 1 |
THE
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Blanco and franchise owner James Bitzonis
pose for a pic