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Local Dairy Queens raise money for Akron Children’s Hospital
By TIM CLEVELAND
The Cornersburg and Austintown Dairy Queen locations hosted bounce houses to help raise money for Akron Children’s Hospital on Sept. 6 and 7, respectively.
A suggested donation of $1 allowed children to play in the bounce house.
Ray Smith, the owner of the two locations, said a meeting with Akron Children’s Hospital sparked the idea of doing the fundraiser.
“I was recently at a meeting with JoAnn Stock, a representative from Akron Children’s Hospital and we were discussing ‘Miracle Treat Day’ at the DQ, a day in which we donate Blizzard proceeds to Akron Children’s Hospital,” he said. “At that meeting, JoAnn discussed other ways in which our DQ store could help the hospital raise funds. JoAnn encouraged us to sign up to be a ‘change bandit’ for the radiothon which will be on the radio from Sept. 17-19.
“Joann offered many ideas in which our DQ could participate in the radiothon including selling more miracle balloons, being a change bandit location (which is simply having a canister on the counter to collect money) or charging your employees to ‘dress down’ at work. I came up with the idea of a bounce house because I consider Bruce Shepas, the owner of Austintown Bounce, a friend of mine. I know he is already very generous to the community so all I did was simply solicit him to donate the bounce for the day to both of our stores. Bruce, being gracious to help Akron Children’s Hospital was happy oblige. With no cost to us for the bounce house 100 percent, the suggested donation of $1 per person to bounce will be donated to ACH. I simply can not thank both Bruce and his business partner Harold Porter for their kindness.”
Smith said the turnout on the first day was poor due to rain, but things were much better the next.
“A suggested donation of $1 per bounce was recommended,” he said. “Many of our customers are very generous giving more than recommended. The promise of ACH is that no child us turned away for the inability to pay. We copy that at the DQ today with the bounce house. No child that wants to bounce will be turned away even if you are not able to donate.”
In addition to the bounce house, the locations had its employees selling booklets for $2 that contain $35 worth of DQ coupons that are available for a limited time.
Smith said he takes the role his company plays in doing charitable endeavors very seriously.
“We feel it is very important to give back to the community that in turn supports us,” he said. “Families and children are our target market. Teaming up with ACH, it’s simply a great fit for both of us and is why ACH is our chosen charitable organization. The more you give, the more you get. We feel it is so true. Yeah, it’s a little work to do special events at the DQ and fundraiser for ACH at the DQ, but we feel that is what makes our business so successful. We have the two top grossing DQ stores in the tri-county area. We are also the top contributing DQs to ACH Boardman campus.
“We are extremely blessed ourselves. Not only do we have four healthy children ourselves and have not really had the need for the hospital, it is great to support them and know that a top notch facility is in our back yard and that all the money we raise stays local with the promise that no child is turned away.”