Panda Express teams up with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Knott's & Oakley
September 24, 2008
ROSEMEAD, Calif. — Panda Express has announced its involvement in "Doorways," a partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County, Calif., Knott's Berry Farm and Oakley, that is designed to help increase awareness about the need for mentors in Orange County.
The inaugural "Doorways" event will be held Sept. 27, at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, Calif., at 30 Panda Express locations throughout Orange County, as well as Oakley's headquarters in Foothill Ranch. Two matches — an adult mentor with his/her Little Brother or Little Sister — will spend a day at a "Doorways" location distributing information about Big Brothers Big Sisters and answering questions. The highlight of the day will be a "Big for a Day" event at Knott's Berry Farm, beginning with an 11 a.m. kick-off at Knott's Panda Express restaurant.
At the "Big for a Day" event, many prominent business and community leaders will join Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County board members to spend the day with at-risk children at Knott's Berry Farm, each of them matched one-to-one with a child that is waiting for a Big Brother or Big Sister.
Panda Restaurant Group CEO Tom Davin, VP of operations support and innovation Larry Behm, and VP of operations Bob Lustig will participate as "Bigs for a Day," as well as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County board chairman Peter Desforges, Knott's Berry Farm VP and general manager Marty Keithley, and Oakley senior VP of global marketing Scott Bowers.
In addition, Knott's Berry Farm is giving all Big Brothers Big Sisters participants "two-for-one" admission to the park on Sept. 27.