Hardee's Raises More Than $69,000 for Special Olympics Virginia


RICHMOND, VA--(Marketwire - December 2, 2010) -  Hardee's® restaurants operated by Boddie-Noell Enterprises recently raised more than $69,000 for Special Olympics Virginia. The annual fundraiser, Buy a Star, Be a Fan, invites Hardee's customers to purchase stars for $1, and ran from Oct. 12 through Nov. 8. All money raised from the sale of the stars went to the Special Olympics organization to help more than 1,000 Special Olympics athletes participate in the 2011 Summer Games.

Boddie-Noell Enterprises, the largest Hardee's franchise operator in the United States, has been partners with Special Olympics Virginia for 30 years, contributing more than $1 million to the organization. Boddie-Noell owns and operates 178 Hardee's restaurants across Virginia.

"The Buy a Star, Be a Fan campaign results increased this year thanks to the diligence of the Hardee's employees and the generosity of their customers and will provide much-needed funding," said Rick Jeffrey, president of Special Olympics Virginia. "For more than 30 years, not only has Boddie-Noell raised funds and volunteered at Special Olympics events, they employ our Special Olympics athletes and people with intellectual disabilities in their restaurants. They are a true partner in empowering people with intellectual disabilities for success."

Earlier this year, Boddie-Noell was recognized during the Summer Games for its 30 years of support, which is the longest continuous corporate partnership in the organization's history.

Boddie-Noell and Hardee's also partner in Special Olympics Virginia's Training for Life program by employing persons with intellectual disabilities, some of whom are Special Olympics athletes, and providing a welcome workplace environment that breeds success.

"We appreciate the customers who stepped forward this year to increase their support of Special Olympics as well as the time and effort of our own employees who are active volunteers in Special Olympics activities in Virginia," said Jerry Allsbrook, chief marketing officer for Boddie-Noell and a board member of Special Olympics Virginia. "We look forward to seeing all the athletes and their families in Richmond at the 2011 Summer Games."

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. It provides them with continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

To learn more about the Special Olympics Virginia please visit www.specialolympicsva.org.

About Special Olympics Virginia
Special Olympics is a year-round international program of sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. By using sport as a vehicle for social change, Special Olympics Virginia strives to create opportunities for meaningful interaction and self discovery for everyone. The organization's goal is to open the heart and mind of every Virginian to the value and ability of persons with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics Virginia Inc. is the state program of Special Olympics Incorporated.

About Boddie-Noell Enterprises
Boddie-Noell Enterprises (BNE) is a diversified family owned business engaged primarily in restaurants and land development. With more than 48 years in the quick-service industry, BNE is the largest Hardee's franchise operator in the United States with 336 restaurants across four states including 178 restaurants in Virginia. For more information visit www.bneinc.com.

About Hardee's
Celebrating 50 years in the quick-service industry, Hardee's Food Systems is a wholly owned subsidiary of CKE Restaurants, Inc. of Carpinteria, Calif. As of the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2011, CKE Restaurants, Inc., through its subsidiaries, had a total of 3,149 franchised, licensed or company-operated restaurants in 42 states and in 18 countries, including 1,239 Carl's Jr. restaurants and 1,898 Hardee's restaurants. For more information, or to find a Hardee's near you, go to www.ckr.com or www.hardees.com. Hardee's social media sites include www.facebook.com/hardees, www.twitter.com/hardees and www.youtube.com/hardees

Contact Information:

Media Contacts:

Special Olympics Virginia
Holly Claytor
hclaytor@specialolympicsva.org
804.726.3025

Boddie-Noell
Rick Rountree
rick@rickrountree.com
919-878-1144