News

Zoës Kitchen supporting 'super runner' for charity

June 20, 2013

Zoës Kitchen is sponsoring Zoë Goes Running, a first-of-its kind undertaking by world-class runner Zoë Romano to bring awareness and raise funding for the World Pediatric Project (WPP). Zoë Romano, one of only a handful of women to run solo across the U.S., is on a mission to make history by becoming the first person to run the 2,000 miles of the Tour de France. The effort is raising funds to benefit the WPP, an organization that aims to save the lives of critically ill children.

Inspired by Zoë Romano's efforts, Zoës Kitchen is giving guests the opportunity to get involved and support the project's mission of delivering goodness to sick children through its "Give $5, Get $5" campaign. Give $5, Get $5, which launched last week, invites guests to help Zoë Romano's cause by making a $5 donation to WPP, which Zoës Kitchen will then reward with a mobile app goodie for $5 off any menu item at Zoës Kitchen during the subsequent two-week period. Guests can make a donation at any Zoës Kitchen location, or online at www.zoeskitchen.com through July 20, 2013. Less than a week into the campaign, Zoës Kitchen is more than halfway toward reaching its goal of raising $50,000 for Zoë Goes Running and WPP.

"Our guests are incredibly generous and have already demonstrated how inspired they are by Zoë's mission with significant donations in such a short period," said CEO Kevin Miles. "I'm excited to personally be able to congratulate her as she crosses the finish line this July and share a large contribution to her cause on behalf of Zoës Kitchen and our guests."

On a journey that began on May 18, Zoë is running more than 2,000 miles along the Tour de France course, averaging 30 miles per day, with the goal of completing the race in nine weeks — finishing in Paris one day ahead of the tour's peloton. Zoë is aiming to secure at least 1,000 "team members" to pledge donations and help her raise at least $100,000 for WPP. The funds Zoë Romano and Zoës Kitchen jointly raise will send pediatric teams to WPP's partner countries on week-long surgery missions and help bring four children to the U.S. for more complex care.

"We are in awe of the kindness and support we have already received from the Zoës Kitchen community! Our missions are really one in the same. We both want to deliver goodness and inspire others who can impact the world like Zoë Romano," said Susan Rickman, president of World Pediatric Project. "We are honored to partner with Zoës Kitchen this summer and know we can achieve great things together."

Fans can follow Zoë Romano's journey through regular video updates from the runner and share words of encouragement via the Zoës Kitchen Facebook page.

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