HOUSTON –The annual “Make Tuesdays Matter” fundraising effort by local Casa Olé restaurants matters to not only the women served by The Rose, the nonprofit recipient that provides breast health services to nearly 10,000 women annually, but, according to the founder and representatives of the chain, to the hundreds of employees in 12 locations that participate as well.
The October emphasis of collecting 10% of retail sales each Tuesday during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month brought in over $22,140 to The Rose in 2013. The check is presented each spring by Larry Forehand, the founder of Casa Olé and various representatives of the participating franchisees. Now in its eighth year, the annual effort has netted a total of nearly $194,000 that helps to cover the costs of the uninsured women and men who need financial assistance for their screening and diagnostic breast health.
Forehand attests to the dedication required by restaurant staff who encourage not only the purchase of food on the designated Tuesdays but also sales of t-shirts and of ribbons to publicly honor survivors on the walls of the restaurant.
“Our employees and customers appreciate Make Tuesdays Matter because they know The Rose does a good thing for people who can’t afford services on their own,” he said.
In response to the check for 2013, Gibbons once again applauded the commitment of the employees and customers, “Each year I marvel at how invested the employees are. I make it a point throughout the month to visit one of the participating Casa Olé restaurants and each time I see the staff doing all they can to tell our story and help our women. We are so grateful for our friends at Casa Olé. They are a vital part of The Rose community.”
Make Tuesdays Matter started in 2006 when Bob Domec, Sr., and Corkey Turner, both franchisees of Casa Olé and board members for The Rose, suggested the month-long fundraising emphasis. Mexican Restaurants Inc., the parent company of Casa Olé, and other area franchisees quickly embraced the concept. In the years since its inception, donations collected at the area restaurants have helped to purchase needed state-of-the-art equipment and ensured that no one is turned away from services, regardless of their ability to pay.
The Rose offers a full range of breast cancer screening and diagnostic services including mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies and access to treatment. Last year The Rose served 34,710 patients with 9,819 of those being uninsured and sponsored. A total of 61,109 screening and diagnostic procedures were provided, 21,927 were sponsored. For more information, visit www.TheRose.org.
Pictured are: Emily Tucker and Shannon Lecoq of The Rose; Tino Herrera, area supervisor, Mexican Restaurants Inc.; Larry Forehand, founder of Casa Olé; Dorothy Gibbons, CEO and Co-Founder of The Rose; Mike Lawless, area supervisor, Mexican Restaurants Inc.; Trina Hans of The Rose; and Chelsea Andoe, Marketing and Community Relations, Mexican Restaurants Inc.
