Pizza Hut franchisee raises $60K for Make-A-Wish Foundation

Nation's Restaurant News, May 24, 1999

STOW, OHIO Hallrich Inc.. a 77-unit Pizza Hut franchisee based here, raised more than $60,000 for the northeastern Ohio Make-A-Wish Foundation, during a four-month campaign celebrating its 30th anniversary.

With help from a local auto dealership. Medina World Cars, Hallrich created a raffle whose prize was a free two-year lease on a 1999 Volkswagen "Beetle."

"Everyone in our organization got excited about the campaign, and several children's wishes are going to come true because of the effort of our generous employees and customers." said Carol Magazzeni, Hallrich's public-relations and marketing director.

Based in Phoenix and operating since 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants special wishes to children diagnosed with life-threatening diseases.

At the kickoff of the Make-A-Wish charity campaign. Hallrich ambitiously challenged each of its 77 Pizza Hut units to aim for $ 1,968 - an amount chosen in honor of the year the franchise came to Ohio.

More than half of the Hallrich units kicked off their individual campaigns by hosting VIP parties that included a roster of 30 local dignitaries.

"The $1 ticket price encouraged customers to enter the drawing again and again, and many of them chose to make larger donations." Magazzeni said.