P.F. Chang’s Launches Spirit of the Zodiac Campaign to Support Starlight Children’s Foundation

P.F. Chang’s is launching a new annual charitable initiative designed to bring comfort to children during hospital stays. The Scottsdale-based restaurant brand announced Spirit of the Zodiac, a giving program inspired by the Chinese zodiac, with its inaugural campaign—Year of the Fire Horse: Spirit of Strength—benefiting Starlight Children’s Foundation.

What the campaign supports

Starlight Children’s Foundation serves more than 800 children’s hospitals nationwide, providing programs such as toy deliveries, hospital gowns, gaming stations, and other experiences intended to help kids feel more comfortable, connected, and supported during medical care.

How guests can participate (Sept. 2–Sept. 30)

From September 2 through September 30, 2026, guests can purchase Bao, a limited-edition horse plushie, for $10 through dine-in transactions at participating P.F. Chang’s restaurants (while supplies last). For each Bao purchased, P.F. Chang’s will donate an identical Bao plushie to Starlight for distribution through its hospital network—up to 20,000 donated plushies.

Guests can also support the campaign by rounding up their checks or making a direct donation in restaurant. The overall effort aims to raise $500,000 to support Starlight’s work with children and families.

Bonus offer for donors

P.F. Chang’s says guests who purchase Bao or make an in-restaurant donation of $10 or more to Starlight will receive an offer for a complimentary appetizer with the purchase of an entrée on a future dine-in visit, valid through October 31, 2026 (restrictions apply; participating locations only).

A story component for families

The campaign also includes a storytelling element: Bao’s journey will be featured in a digital story and an original children’s book by author Jenny Liao and illustrator Adriane Tsai, expected to publish later this month.

What to watch for

P.F. Chang’s and Starlight plan to continue the partnership beyond September, including in-hospital catering and plush deliveries in early October.

For more information, visit www.pfchangs.com/offers/spirit-of-the-zodiac. To learn more about the partnership, visit starlight.org/pfchangs.

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Chicken Salad Chick and the guests who keep its dining rooms busy just delivered a major win for pediatric cancer research and family support in Atlanta and beyond.

The fast-casual chicken salad brand announced that through the Chicken Salad Chick Foundation, it raised a record-breaking $382,604.30 for CURE Childhood Cancer throughout 2025. The donation was presented at the companys annual owner conference on March 23, 2026, surpassing last years total by more than $50,000 and marking the largest single gift in the partnerships history.

A hometown partnership with real-world reach

Both organizations are headquartered in Atlanta, and the relationship has become a consistent, community-powered pipeline of support for families navigating childhood cancer. For CURE, that support helps fund targeted research and provide crisis-oriented assistance to patients and caregiversthe kind of help that matters immediately when a diagnosis changes everything.

For families facing a diagnosis right now, that impact is real, said Kristin Connor, CEO of CURE Childhood Cancer. It means more options, more precision, and a better chance at a good outcome.

How the $382K was raised: cookies, cards, and local giving

The 2025 total came from two guest-facing initiatives that have become annual traditions:

• Cookies for a CURE (September 2025): During Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Chicken Salad Chick sold its Lemon Burst Buttercream Cookies, with proceeds benefiting CURE Childhood Cancer through the foundation.
• Giving Card program (NovemberDecember 2025): The program splits proceeds50% to CURE Childhood Cancer and 50% to local charities chosen by individual restaurants. Those local partners often include organizations focused on food insecurity and other cancer-related causes.

That second piece is what makes the campaign feel especially community-forward: each restaurant can support national research while also backing on-the-ground organizations in its own neighborhood.

A testament to the generosity of our guests

Chicken Salad Chick President and CEO Scott Deviney credited the milestone to the people who show upguests, franchise owners, and teams across the brands footprint.

Surpassing last years total and reaching a new record is a testament to the generosity of our guests, the dedication of our franchise owners, and the passion our teams bring to serving others, Deviney said. Together, we are making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families facing childhood cancer.

The foundations broader mission: fighting cancer and feeding the hungry

Founded in 2014 by Kevin and Stacy Brown, the Chicken Salad Chick Foundation focuses on two core missions: fighting cancer and feeding the hungry. Since launching in 2017, the foundation has donated more than $2 million to support pediatric cancer research and address food insecurity in local communities.

The brand itself has grown to more than 335 restaurants across 22 states, giving campaigns like Cookies for a CURE a national platformand turning small guest choices into a measurable annual impact.

What to watch for

Cookies for a CURE is set to return this September, again aligning with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. For guests, its a familiar way to participate: order cookies, support families, and help fund research aimed at improving outcomes for kids facing cancer.

For more information, visit www.chickensaladchick.com and www.curechildhoodcancer.org.

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Super Bowl LX fundraising efforts will support 500 schools and help combat student hunger across all 32 NFL markets.

A major effort to fight student hunger is set to make a lasting impact on schools across the United States. GENYOUth, a national nonprofit focused on improving youth nutrition and physical activity, announced that its 2026 Taste of the NFL event and related initiatives will generate a combined impact of $1.5 million, helping provide access to an estimated 75 million school meals for students nationwide.

The funding is expected to benefit approximately 500 schools and 275,000 students, strengthening nutrition security in communities across all 32 NFL club markets.

Tackling Student Hunger Through Football and Food

Held on February 7, 2026, ahead of Super Bowl LX in San Francisco, Taste of the NFL brought together celebrity chefs, NFL legends, current players, corporate sponsors, and community leaders to raise awareness and funds for student nutrition programs.

The event featured renowned chefs including Andrew Zimmern, Carla Hall, Lasheeda Perry, Mark Bucher, and Sayat and Laura Ozyilmaz, along with appearances by Cat Cora and Tyler Florence. More than 20 culinary professionals participated alongside over 30 NFL players and legends, creating a unique experience that blended sports, food, and philanthropy.

According to GENYOUth CEO Ann Marie Krautheim, school meals remain a critical resource for millions of children.

“For millions of children, school meals are more than nutrition—they are a lifeline that helps students show up ready to learn, grow, and thrive,” Krautheim said. “Together, we are turning shared commitment into real opportunity—fueling brighter, healthier futures for kids across the country.”

Support from the NFL and PepsiCo

Taste of the NFL was made possible through support from the NFL, the NFL Foundation, and presenting sponsor PepsiCo, along with numerous corporate and community partners.

The NFL has long supported initiatives aimed at improving youth health and wellness, using the league’s visibility to address challenges facing communities nationwide.

Anna Isaacson, NFL Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility and a GENYOUth board member, emphasized the role football can play in bringing people together for meaningful causes.

“By leveraging the unifying power of football and moments like Super Bowl LX, we can bring together partners, communities, and resources to make a meaningful difference in supporting the health and well-being of kids nationwide,” she said.

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PepsiCo, a longtime partner of GENYOUth, also highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing food insecurity among children.

Beyond the Big Game

The impact of Taste of the NFL extends well beyond a single fundraising event.

Leading up to Super Bowl LX, GENYOUth’s Super Schools initiative delivered Grab and Go meal equipment packages to more than 60 schools throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. These resources help schools increase student participation in meal programs by making nutritious meals more accessible throughout the school day.

The 2026 Super Schools program is expected to expand access to approximately 9 million school meals annually while creating more opportunities for daily physical activity for more than 33,000 students.

By providing equipment, resources, and support directly to schools, GENYOUth aims to remove barriers that often prevent students from accessing healthy meals and active lifestyles.

A Growing Mission

GENYOUth has become one of the nation’s leading organizations focused on youth wellness. To date, the nonprofit has supported more than 77,000 schools across the United States, helping millions of children gain greater access to nutrition and physical activity programs.

The organization’s efforts are especially important as schools continue addressing food insecurity, a challenge that affects families in communities large and small across the country.

As planning begins for Taste of the NFL 2027 in Los Angeles, organizers hope to build on this year’s success and continue expanding programs that ensure students have access to the nutritious meals they need to learn, grow, and succeed.

For GENYOUth and its partners, the goal remains clear: no child should have to face hunger while trying to get an education.

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Source: Information for this article was provided by GENYOUth and PR Newswire. Additional information is available through the GENYOUth Press Release Archive and the Taste of the NFL News Center.

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