Throughout September, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. will donate 10 cents from every kids' meal sold at participating U.S. locations to The Faris Foundation, a nonprofit focused on children and families affected by childhood cancer. The monthlong campaign coincides with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and extends to digital channels: guests ordering through redrobin.com or the Red Robin mobile app can also make a voluntary donation at checkout even if they are not purchasing from the kids' menu.
How the Program Works
The mechanics are straightforward for operators and guests alike. No coupon, code, or opt-in is required — the 10-cent contribution is built automatically into every qualifying kids' meal transaction at participating restaurants. The voluntary add-on at online checkout broadens the fundraising footprint beyond dine-in traffic, tapping the chain's growing off-premise order volume and allowing adult guests who would not otherwise trigger a donation to participate.
Where the Dollars Go
Proceeds will support The Faris Foundation's four program pillars: pediatric cancer research funding, hospital-based creative arts programs at children's cancer centers, public awareness initiatives, and the foundation's "Good JuJu" care packages designed to bring comfort to young patients and their families. "Together, we can create brighter days and advance better treatments for children with cancer while bringing comfort, hope and encouragement to families when they need it most," said Dr. Asha Virani, co-founder of The Faris Foundation.
For casual dining operators, cause-marketing programs tied to recognizable awareness months have become a reliable mechanism for deepening community ties and driving incremental traffic, particularly among family dining occasions. Red Robin's nearly 500 U.S. and Canadian locations — including franchised units — give the campaign meaningful scale. CEO and president Dave Pace framed the initiative as an extension of the chain's broader community commitment: "Through this partnership, 10 cents of every kids' meal purchased in September helps support The Faris Foundation's mission while giving our guests an opportunity to make a meaningful impact."
The campaign is part of a wider industry trend toward purpose-driven promotions that link specific menu items to charitable outcomes, a model that restaurant operators have increasingly adopted to strengthen guest loyalty without discounting. Pairing the program with the mobile app and online ordering platform also reflects how chains are using digital hospitality channels to extend cause-marketing reach beyond the four walls. Full details are available at redrobin.com/faris-foundation.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
