Funds raised via sales of Igloo’s Playmate Coolers were donated directly to the CDC Foundation and Restaurant Employee Relief Fund
Katy, TX, May 12, 2020 – Today, Igloo proudly announced the donation of $203,794 in the fight against COVID-19. From March 19th through May 1st, Igloo had pledged 100% of the profits from all Playmate Coolers sold on Igloocoolers.com to benefit the CDC Foundation and the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund. As of today, the funds have been delivered to these partner organizations.
A donation by Igloo to the CDC Foundation has helped secure and deliver personal protective equipment (PPE) to the New Jersey and Houston Departments of Health. Funds raised by sales of a special edition Igloo Playmate cooler endorsed by celebrity chef, Guy Fieri, have been donated to the Restaurant Relief Fund. The Restaurant Relief Fund has been created to deliver one time, first come first serve, $500 checks that can assist impacted restaurant employees with necessities such as housing, transportation, utilities, child-care, groceries, medical bills and/or student loans.
“Thank you to the medical professionals and first responders who remain committed to the front lines amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you to Guy Fieri who made our donation to the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund possible. And a huge THANK YOU to our fans and customers who supported this initiative!” stated Dave Allen, Igloo President and CEO. “We hope the PPE donated can positively impact the health and safety of the health care professionals who have received it and we look forward to seeing the restaurant industry and its workers rise out of this global pandemic even stronger than before.”
The CDC Foundation is a catalyst of unleashing the power of collaboration between the CDC, philanthropies, private entities and individuals to protect the health, safety and security of America and the world.
Beginning on April 2, 2020, impacted restaurant workers can apply online for a one-time, $500 check to use towards housing, transportation, utilities, child-care, groceries, medical bills and/or student loans. These grants will be administered by the NRAEF and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information on donating to RERF visit RERF.US.
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About Igloo: Born from a modest metalworking shop back in 1947, Igloo has been instrumental in redefining how we live, work and play. What began with bringing clean water to the worksite quickly moved into super-functional, best in class ice chests. Igloo products made the family outdoor recreation movement of the 20th century possible. Suddenly, taking your kids camping on the weekend became easy and cross-country road trips became a summer vacation staple.
As we approach our next century, Igloo is 1500 employees strong. We are proud to call—a 1.8 million square-foot, three-building facility in—Katy, Texas home. With more than 500 products sold at thousands of retailers around the globe, we can confidently call ourselves the number one cooler manufacturer in the world.
And through it all we haven’t lost sight of our original goal—to create products that enable the pursuit of happiness (however you define it). That’s why we’re still working hard every day to innovate, create, and make it easier for you to get out, work hard and play even harder.
About the CDC Foundation: The CDC Foundation helps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) save and improve lives by unleashing the power of collaboration between CDC, philanthropies, corporations, organizations and individuals to protect the health, safety and security of America and the world. The CDC Foundation is the go-to nonprofit authorized by Congress to mobilize philanthropic partners and private-sector resources to support CDC’s critical health protection mission. Since 1995, the CDC Foundation has launched more than 1,000 programs and raised more than $900 million. The CDC Foundation managed hundreds of CDC-led programs in the United States and in more than 140 countries last year. Follow the CDC Foundation on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
About the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF): As the philanthropic foundation of the National Restaurant Association, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s mission of service to the public is dedicated to enhancing the industry’s training and education, career development and community engagement efforts. The NRAEF and its programs work to Attract, Empower and Advance today’s and tomorrow’s restaurant and foodservice workforce. NRAEF programs include:
ProStart® – a high-school career and technical education program
Restaurant Ready – partnering with community-based organizations to provide opportunity youth and justice-involved individuals with skills training and job opportunities
Military – helping military servicemen and women transition their skills to restaurant and foodservice careers
Scholarships – financial assistance for students pursuing restaurant, foodservice and hospitality degrees
Hospitality Sector Registered Apprenticeship project – a partnership with the American Hotel & Lodging Association providing a hospitality apprenticeship program for the industry
For more information on the NRAEF, visit ChooseRestaurants.org.
