First Watch, the Daytime Dining concept serving breakfast, brunch and lunch, announced that the company has partnered with the V Foundation for Cancer Research to support the organization’s mission of achieving Victory Over Cancer. As part of this new collaboration, First Watch will donate 25 cents from the sale of every kids meal at its more than 440 locations nationwide to the V Foundation’s Dick Vitale Fund for Pediatric Cancer. The effort is anticipated to raise close to $500,000 in its first year.
“No child should suffer and no parent should watch their child suffer from cancer, and at First Watch we’re proud to launch this partnership where kids can help kids, by contributing to the V Foundation’s mission to achieve victory over cancer every time they dine at First Watch,” says Chris Tomasso, President and CEO of First Watch. “We’ve always admired Dick Vitale’s relentless passion and dedication to stamping out pediatric cancer in partnership with the Foundation, and it’s an honor to partner with Dick to bring this life-saving mission into every First Watch restaurant nationwide.”
As a corporate partner, First Watch will work with the V Foundation to strengthen the organization’s efforts to save lives and find cures through awareness and funding, 100% of which will go directly to pediatric cancer research. To foster additional support, First Watch has continued its ongoing sponsorship of the V Foundation’s annual gala, hosted in Sarasota, Fla., by V Foundation board member and longtime champion for pediatric cancer research, Dick Vitale. Most recently, the 17th annual gala held on May 6th raised over $11 million, bringing the event’s total to nearly $55 million since its inception.
"I'm thrilled my friends at First Watch are joining us in this effort against pediatric cancer and giving every kid the chance to help save the lives of kids battling cancer -- one meal at a time," says Dick Vitale. "Far too many children and their families are experiencing hardship because of this disease, and for far too long. It's up to all of us to ensure pediatric oncologists have the resources they need to help our children turn the tide and reach their full potential, beyond cancer and towards a healthier future."
Dick Vitale joined the V Foundation Board of Directors shortly after the passing of his friend and fellow ESPN broadcaster Jim Valvano to cancer. The fund in Vitale’s name is committed to stopping the disease and, to date, has awarded nearly $60 million to end pediatric cancer.
“First Watch is taking a generous stand against pediatric cancer, and we are grateful for their commitment to supporting research,” says Shane Jacobson, CEO of the V Foundation. “It will take collaboration and perseverance to beat this disease and this partnership has both. The money raised will support the nation’s best research and will help save the lives of young cancer patients.”
For First Watch, the partnership is the latest in a long tradition of community-based philanthropy. At the local level, First Watch has sparked charitable support with each new restaurant it opens by inspiring communities to donate to local nonprofit organizations during opening weekend, raising hundreds of thousands over the years for causes such as food security, education and youth services, among others.
News and information presented in this release has not been corroborated by WTWH Media LLC.
