PDQ and Smile Train Partner to Raise Awareness and Funds for Children with Clefts
Guests can donate at South Florida PDQ locations November 8 to December 1
Tampa, FL — Award-winning PDQ restaurants (People Dedicated to Quality) and the world’s largest cleft organization, Smile Train are working together to support and raise awareness for children with clefts this month at PDQ’s 11 South Florida locations.
Every three minutes a baby is born with a cleft. Many children with clefts have severe difficulties eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking. Smile Train supports free cleft surgery for children with clefts in more than 90 countries and supports comprehensive cleft care every step of the way.
From November 8 through December 1, guests who visit any of PDQ’s 11 South Florida locations will have the opportunity to support Smile Train at check-out by rounding up their payment to the nearest dollar amount or making a donation. All funds will be donated directly to Smile Train to help provide free cleft care treatment to children in need.
The partnership will be launched on Sunday, November 8 as a part of the socially-distanced Grand Opening celebration of PDQ’s Miami: Coral Reef location at 2770 SW 152nd Street. There will be drive-thru entertainment from 11am until 5pm, including a special guest performance from local, award-winning musician Cristian Cuevas. All guests who visit the Miami: Coral Reef location from 11am until 9pm that day will receive a scratch-off card for a free menu item on their next visit.
“Smile Train is thrilled to be partnering with PDQ. As we look to build programs with sponsors, it is important that we work with organizations who share the same commitment and values,” said Melanie Buhrmaster, Smile Train’s Vice President of Development. “PDQ’s dedication to putting people first aligns well with Smile Train and our vision to provide optimal cleft treatment and care for our patients. We look forward to the launch of this project and thank PDQ and its customers for helping us give children around the world the gift of a smile.”
“Our South Florida teams of People Dedicated to Quality are looking forward to raising awareness and much-needed funds for this important cause,” said Frank Rappa, PDQ Chief Marketing Officer. “We are so proud to partner with Smile Train and I’ve personally had the opportunity to visit their local programs in Haiti and see firsthand some of the life-changing work they do for children with clefts.”
The participating PDQ locations are Dania Beach, Deerfield Beach, Miami: Coral Reef, Miami: Fountain Square, Oakland Park, Pembroke Pines, Pompano Beach, Port St. Lucie, Stuart, Wellington and West Palm Beach. All locations are open for lunch and dinner for dine-in, To-Go, drive-thru, delivery and catering from 11am until 9pm seven days a week.
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About Smile Train
Smile Train empowers local medical professionals with training, funding, and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally. We advance a sustainable solution and scalable global health model for cleft treatment, drastically improving children’s lives, including their ability to eat, breathe, speak, and ultimately thrive. To learn more about how Smile Train's sustainable approach means donations have both an immediate and long-term impact, please visit smiletrain.org.
About PDQ
Founded in 2011, award-winning PDQ - short for "People Dedicated to Quality” - offers chef-driven recipes and mindful ingredients typically found in a fine casual restaurant with the value, speed and convenience of the fast food and fast casual segment. Outback Steakhouse co-founder Bob Basham and MVP Holdings CEO Nick Reader are the two principal owners of PDQ. Beloved throughout the Southeast for its famous hand-breaded chicken tenders and signature sauces, PDQ also crafts delicious sandwiches, salads and hand-spun milkshakes fresh in store, every day. PDQ is committed to creating deep roots in its local communities and has given millions in dollars and in-kind donations to charities, schools, and organizations since its inception. On October 30, 2011, the original PDQ restaurant opened its doors in Tampa (FL) and the concept now has 58 locations in Florida, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit www.eatPDQ.com.
Media Contacts
Smile Train
Nijha Diggs
Senior Director of Public Relations
ndiggs@smiletrain.org
646.751.3231
PDQ
Jeffrey Kamis
Vice President Marketing and Public Relations
jkamis@eatPDQ.com
813.784.3642