Proceeds to Benefit ‘Running for Rachel’ 5K
Harrisburg, Pa based Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar hosted its eighth annual “Running for Rachel” fundraising event at several of its Central Pennsylvania locations on Wednesday, February 19, marking their biggest year yet raising $12,000 in just two hours with help from the Hershey Bears hockey club.
The event was hosted by six of Arooga’s Pennsylvania locations in Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Hershey, and Lancaster, and featured Hershey Bears ticket voucher giveaways for cash donations, a silent auction featuring many items donated by Arooga’s beer partners and local distributors, meet & greet autograph sessions with Bears players, and a chance to win a $250 gift card from Arooga’s. Proceeds for the auction, cash donations, and a percentage of sales of a specialty mule cocktail made for the event will all benefit the Running for Rachel 5K, which will be held on Harrisburg’s City Island this year on April 26, in honor of its namesake Rachel Guss, who passed away in 2011 from Duodenal cancer, a rare form of the disease that is very difficult to treat.
“We are so grateful to team up with Arooga’s and the Hershey Bears for the eighth year as we honor Rachel’s memory. And we’re thrilled that we had a record breaking night as the community helped us raise money for cancer research,” said Erin Stone, President of Running for Rachel.
“We look forward to this event each year, and are thrilled to have raised so much in one night for such a great cause.” said Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar President and Co-Founder Gary Huether, Jr. “This event wouldn’t be possible without the support of our beer partners’ and local distributors’ generous donations to our silent auction, and we thank them along with our fans, friends, and family for turning out and making this such a momentous occasion.”
“The Hershey Bears hockey club is so proud to be part of such a wonderful annual event for such an important cause. The Running for Rachel event, in partnership with area Arooga’s restaurants, is something our players and staff members look forward to attending every year as part of our ongoing Hershey Bears Cares initiative,” said Bryan Helmer, Vice President of Hockey Operations, Hershey Bears. “It is a tremendous opportunity to engage with our fans while helping to raise funds in the fight against duodenal cancer. Thank you to everyone who supported this effort.”
The recipient of several national accolades, including selection as America’s Next Top Restaurant Franchise, as well as recognition among Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 500 Franchises of 2020, Full Service Restaurant magazine’s Top 50 Emerging Restaurant Chains 2018, Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2018 & 2019 Top Food-Based Franchises, Technomic’s Top 500 Restaurant Chains 2019, and Restaurant Business’ Future 50 2019, the Arooga’s Restaurant Company continues to charm the industry with its commitment to utilizing the latest technology in enhancing the guest experience and improving operational practices, creating unique and delicious menu items with fresh, natural ingredients, and observing environmentally responsible operation methods in their restaurants as part of their certification by the Green Restaurant Association.
Arooga’s is an innovative restaurant group that currently offers several different models for investment: their traditional sports themed and entertainment focused concept, an urban design with a similar theme and a flexible floorplan with reduced square footage, and their highly anticipated Tap & Kitchen concept which focuses on modern industrial design, craft beer, and kitchen featuring sustainably raised, no antibiotic ever proteins along with local and organic produce. Arooga’s offers franchising opportunities for their concepts to qualified multi-unit candidates. For more information on available markets in the US and internationally please visit www.aroogasfranchising.net, or contact Keith Swade, Director of Franchise Development at keithswade@aroogas.com.