ROSEMEAD, Calif., Feb. 6, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Panda Express, the nation's largest and fastest growing Asian restaurant concept, is selling plush panda bears in February and March to raise funds that will be split equally between the American Red Cross, for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, and Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. The bears will be available at participating Panda Express locations in Los Angeles County and surrounding cities, beginning Feb. 8 with any purchase, while supplies last.
"Our guests and their loved ones will adore receiving these Panda bears, and can feel pleased that nearly 60 percent of the $4.99 purchase price will benefit deserving charities," says Peggy Cherng, PhD, Co-Chair of Panda Express. "In the Chinese culture, pandas symbolize peace and good fortune -- making them a fantastic gift to give from the heart."
"We are enormously grateful to Peggy Cherng and the Panda Restaurant Group for this latest expression of its generosity," says Childrens Hospital Los Angeles CEO Walter W. Noce, Jr. "Our children and families come to know many heroes at Childrens Hospital, certainly our physicians, nurses and other caregivers, but it is only because of extraordinary people like Peggy and Andrew, and the commitment of corporations like the Panda Restaurant Group, that we are able to continue to provide the care that saves young lives."
This is one of many philanthropic efforts parent-company Panda Restaurant Group has supported. The company's charitable donations surpassed $1 million in 2005, and this effort is expected to kick-off their 2006 giving with an estimated $100,000 donation. As the company grows, with more than 175 new locations planned to open in 2006, Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. will continue to increase their philanthropic commitment.
Panda Restaurant Group launched Panda Cares in 1999 as a company-wide community involvement initiative that provides food, funding and volunteer services to children's organizations and disaster relief efforts. Any Panda associate is empowered to initiate a Panda Cares contribution in their community. In 2005, the program expanded its focus to include disaster relief and made contributions to tsunami and Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Other activities included the 7th Annual Panda Cares Open Golf Tournament and supporting the Oakland Zoo's efforts to bring two giant pandas to the Bay Area. For more information, visit www.pandarg.com.
About Panda Restaurant Group
With more than 800 restaurant locations in 34 states, the privately-held Panda Restaurant Group (www.pandarg.com) is the nation's leader in Asian quick-service restaurants. The company operates a successful chain of concepts including Panda Express, Panda Inn and Hibachi-San. Panda Express is best known for fresh, hot Chinese food, served quickly, and delectable Orange Flavored Chicken, a Panda Express original.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is where people mobilize to help their neighbors -- across the street, across the country and across the world -- in emergencies. Each year, in communities large and small, victims of some 70,000 disasters turn to neighbors familiar and new -- the nearly 1 million volunteers and 35,000 employees of the Red Cross. Through more than 800 locally supported chapters, more than 15 million people gain the skills they need to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their homes, communities and world. Some 4 million people give blood -- the gift of life -- through the Red Cross, making it the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The Red Cross helps thousands of U.S. service members separated from their families by military duty stay connected. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, a global network of 181 national societies, the Red Cross helps restore hope and dignity to the world's most vulnerable people. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money and blood to do its work.
About Childrens Hospital Los Angeles
Founded in 1901, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles has been treating the most seriously ill and injured children in Los Angeles for more than a century, and it is acknowledged throughout the United States and around the world for its leadership in pediatric and adolescent health. Childrens Hospital is one of America's premier teaching hospitals, affiliated with the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California for more than 73 years. It is a national leader in pediatric research.