Burger King raises $200,000 for Eppley Cancer Center

From left: Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, is joined by sponsors Paul Jensen, Southwest Airlines Omaha airport station manager, Angie Russell, Southwest Airlines marketing manager, Glo, Star 104.5 morning show, Amanda Mueller, KPTM Fox 42 anchor, Glennboy, Star 104.5 morning show, Natalie Simmonds, marketing manager, Simmonds Restaurant Management, Inc, and Megan Bratetic, marketing coordinator, Simmonds Restaurant Management, Inc.

The UNMC Eppley Cancer Center recently received a major boost in its efforts to reduce cancer deaths in children when it received a $200,000 check from the fourth annual “BK Beat Cancer for Kids” campaign.

The campaign, which is spearheaded by Simmonds Restaurant Management and their local Burger King restaurants, kicked off in July in more than 70 restaurants in the greater Omaha and Des Moines areas.

Burger King customers were asked to donate $1 for a winning scratch-off ticket. Each ticket was a winner with prizes ranging from free food items to prizes from Best Buy, Scooters Coffeehouse, Scheels, Beauty First, UNO Athletics and Creighton Athletics.

Omahan Lana Schmidt won the grand prize, a family vacation for four to Los Angeles. It includes roundtrip airfare from Southwest Airlines, tickets to Six Flags and hotel accommodations.

Schmidt, a single mother of three, said her family often eats at Burger King. She bought the tickets for chances to win food prizes and show her kids the importance of helping others. She said she had no idea about the grand prize.

“I couldn’t believe it. It’s really exciting,” Schmidt said.

From left: The Schmidt family, Tyler, Lana, McKenna, Dillon (hidden), received the grand prize from Natalie Simmonds, marketing manager, Simmonds Restaurant Management, Inc. and Megan Bratetic, marketing coordinator, Simmonds Restaurant Management, Inc.

The day she won was the first time she bought multiple tickets. The first one her son scratched off was the grand prize winner. The vacation will be the family’s first trip together.

In 2004, Simmonds Restaurant Management/Burger King and UNMC kicked off the program.

“The disease is different than adult cancer. You can’t apply the same research to kids,” said Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center. “This money allows us to focus on pediatric cancer.”

Natalie Simmonds, director of marketing of Simmonds Restaurant Management, Inc., took the program to the next level with her passion for the project and the cause.

“It gives our customers a chance to help one dollar at a time . and they win at the same time,” Simmonds said. “Dr. Cowan and his team are doing great research at Eppley Cancer Center, so we’re happy to help.”

“It’s been a great partnership,” said Tom Thompson, director of development, UNMC Eppley Cancer Center for the University of Nebraska Foundation. “It’s an example that there are multiple avenues to help support cancer research. Burger King helps not only raise critical funds for research, but it also helps spread a very important message throughout eastern Nebraska and a large potion of Iowa.”

In four years, the campaign has raised $540,000 for pediatric cancer research. “BK Beat Cancer for Kids” is a part of Liz’s Legacy, a fund to advance cancer research and treatment through the Eppley Cancer Center.

In addition to Burger King Restaurants, additional sponsors include KPTM Fox 42, KCWI 23 (Des Moines), Star 104.5 FM, Bozell & Jacobs and Artfac Graphics.