Denny's has announced a new partnership with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The collaboration between Denny's and St. Jude will have Denny's donating a portion of the proceeds to St. Jude Children's Hospital for each meal ordered from the Denny's kids' menu.
"St. Jude is a special and inspiring institution, and there are so many families who have been touched by cancer and sickle cell disease that we knew Denny's could help make a difference," said John Dillon, Chief Brand Officer and Executive Vice President at Denny's, in a Denny's press release. "Together, we will fund important medical research and treatment that will help those who need it most – the children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases."
According to the press release, the kids' menu was designed with artwork from a St. Jude patient, Marleigh, who has since completed treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
"We are elated that artwork designed by St. Jude patient, Marleigh, will be featured on the kids' menu in Denny's restaurants all across the United States," said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, in the same news release. "Marleigh is an extraordinary young girl. Her journey has not been easy, just like the thousands of children treated each year at St. Jude. Denny's ongoing commitment to donate proceeds from every kids' menu sale, from every restaurant across the nation, can make a difference in the lives of kids like Marleigh and help ensure that no family ever receives a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food because we believe all a family should worry about is helping their child live."
During the pandemic, Denny's has helped its staff and customers to feel safe as well as comfortable buying from the brand. It has introduced shareable family packs, a new grocery service at Denny's Market as well as Dine-Thru and Curbside services. It has also started enhancing its safety procedures, such as:
- "Temperature checks performed daily on every employee
- Masks worn by all team members
- Removal of multi-touch items from the tables
- Social distancing throughout the restaurant
- A trained Sanitation Specialist who cleans every chair, table, highchair, menu, and condiment container after every guest
- Disposable menus available upon request
- Washing of team members' hands every 20 minutes with soap and water followed by alcohol-based hand sanitizer"