Fadó Irish Pubs recently celebrated a significant milestone by raising more than $1 million in a single year for childhood cancer research. The feat was accomplished across nine participating locations, setting a record within the St. Baldrick’s Foundation among participating restaurants and pub chains. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding research to find cures for childhood cancers, coordinating its signature head-shaving events worldwide.
Since 2002, Fadó Irish Pubs have played host to these head-shaving events in many of their pubs nationwide. Collectively, the pubs have raised more than $6.8 million for childhood cancer research over that period.
“St. Baldrick’s events have given us a way to engage our customers and employees while making a meaningful impact in the lives of kids with cancer,” says Kieran McGill, CEO and owner of Fadó Pubs Inc.
With its Irish roots, Fadó pubs never shy away from a challenge and are calling on other vendors in the food and restaurant industry to serve up some healthy competition, keeping in mind that everyone wins at the end of the day. Many vendors of all sizes host St. Baldrick’s events, from coffee houses and pizza parlors to large corporate food chains. Other supporters from the industry include Ruckus Pizza, Jeremiah Joe Coffee, Rocky River Brewing Company and Classic Lanes bowling alley.
The planning for these events starts months in advance as participants, volunteers and pub staff begin to spread the word in their community with the hopes of beating the goal set the previous year. The entire community is challenged to rise to the occasion and it’s a great way to bring neighbors and strangers together for a good cause.
Vendors hosting these exciting and unique events provide the community with a platform to tell their individual stories. One such story came from the Fadó Irish Pub event in Denver, which featured more than 520 shavees as a result of four nurses creating a fundraising team in honor of 2-year-old Tuesday Witt. Team Tuesday encouraged attendants and participants to dress up in superhero and princess costumes, and raised money through carnival games, caricature drawings, face painting and raffle prizes. The event was a success and Team Tuesday was the top fundraiser that day, raising more than $64,000 for St. Baldrick’s. In Seattle, a Fadó Pub raised more than $46,000 with Seattle Sounders soccer players Dylan Remick and David Estrada stopping in to serve as guest barbers by helping to shave more than 50 heads.
After time spent planning and diligently fundraising, the end result is always a fun afternoon at an Irish pub shared with friends. These events impact the community and, most importantly, the lives of children battling cancer. The events can take place anytime of the year and anyone can host one by visiting www.stbaldricks.org/start-an-event. Fadó Irish Pubs and the St. Baldrick’s Foundation call on other businesses in the food and restaurant industry to step up to the challenge and make a change!
