Hooters of South Florida donates $42,700 to Miami Cancer Institute

Restaurant chain raises money in memory of former employee

MIAMI – Hooters of South Florida presented a check for $42,700 to Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health South Florida. 

The funds for the donation were all raised last October at South Florida Hooters locations in the name of Kelly Jo Dowd. 

Recommended Videos



Dowd, one of the original Hooters girls and manager of the restaurant chain's Palm Harbor location, lost her battle to breast cancer in 2007. She was a tireless advocate for early detection, education and fundraising in the battle against the deadly disease that affects one in eight women.

"Giving back to our community, especially through raising funds and awareness for cancer research and outreach at local hospitals, is very important to us," said South Florida Hooters director of marketing Kristi Quarles.

Hooters of South Florida raised the funds in conjunction with the Jimmy V Foundation, which made the grant possible. South Florida Hooters girls, LTP Management representatives and Miami Cancer Institute's chief of breast surgery, Dr. Jane Mendez, participated in the presentation.

 For more information about South Florida Hooters and its charitable outreach, please visit www.HootersFlorida.com


About the Author:

Mayte Padron Cordones is an Emmy-award winning journalist and the director of WPLG's Community Relations Department, overseeing the station's outreach initiatives to benefit and strengthen the South Florida community.