Hooters Girls Donate Their Pantyhose to Create Booms and Absorb Up to 1 Million Gallons of Oil in the Gulf of Mexico

ATLANTA, June 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Hooters Girls from all over the country will be voluntarily donating their torn pantyhose in an effort to help absorb the oil spilled in the Gulf of Mexico.  The laundered pantyhose are used to make booms which are stuffed with hair, fur and fleece to absorb the oil.  Hooters expects to collect over 100,000 pairs of pantyhose through this effort dubbed, Project Pantyhose, which could ultimately absorb 1 million gallons of oil in the Gulf, if the booms are reused 8 times, the average life of a boom.  

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100611/CL19684 )

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100611/CL19684 )

The pantyhose that are collected will be shipped to environmental agencies and non-profit organizations Indigo Oceanic and Matter of Trust, which will then be used to create a boom.  The booms are then grouped together and sent out into the Gulf to absorb and block the oil from reaching the coast.  All of Hooters 380 domestic locations are collecting the pantyhose for a 4 week period to create 15 miles of booms.    

"Who would have thought our Hooters Girls' pantyhose would have a use other than making the girls' legs look great," stated Mike McNeil, Vice President of Marketing, Hooters of America.  "The Hooters Girls friendly service has just become environmental friendly as well."  

Hooters supports the use of natural fibers as a non-toxic, renewable resource to aid in the oil spill clean up efforts.  

"Matter of Trust would like to thank Hooters for its support and generosity to the Gulf Spill Clean Up Program," stated Lisa Gautier, President of Matter of Trust.  "We are so grateful to all the Hooters Girls and for the 100,000 pairs of pantyhose which will be stuffed with hair, fur & fleece to make "booms" that are donated to protect the harbors and marshlands."

About Hooters of America, Inc.

Hooters of America, Inc. is the franchisor and operator of over 455 Hooters restaurants in 44 states and 29 foreign countries.  There are roughly 15,000 Hooters Girls in the US and their uniform includes pantyhose.  The life expectancy of a pair of pantyhose worn by Hooters Girls at work is about 2-3 shifts.  The first Hooters opened in 1983 in Clearwater, Florida.  Hooters is well-known for its brand of food and fun, featuring a casual beach-theme atmosphere, a menu that features seafood, sandwiches and Hooters nearly world famous chicken wings, and service provided by the All-American cheerleaders, the Hooters Girls.  For more information about Hooters visit www.Hooters.com.  

About Matter of Trust        

Matter of Trust, established in 1998, is an ecological public charity that links ideas, sparks action and materializes flourishing systems. It concentrates on manmade surplus, natural surplus and eco-education.  For More information visit www.MatterofTrust.org.

About Indigo Oceanic

Indigo Oceanic, a Sarasota, Florida non-profit marine research company, has been actively exploring the viability of indigenous Gulf of Mexico seaweeds as potential for energy alternatives.  For more information visit www.indigooceanic.com.

SOURCE Hooters of America, Inc.