Turn White Castle "Red" With Donations To The Red Cross This Valentine's Day

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- For more than 20 years, White Castle has celebrated Valentine's Day with a romantic, affordable dinner for people of all ages. This year, White Castle is expanding its love for its legion of fans, known as Cravers, to the American Red Cross with a fundraiser to support its disaster relief efforts. Starting today, guests can donate $1, $3 and $5 at more than 400 restaurants.

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"Our mission is to not only provide memorable moments to our Cravers," said Jamie Richardson, White Castle vice president, "but to make a difference in the communities where we live and work. Our loyal Cravers actively support worthy causes through their participation in our Castle Shares initiatives at White Castle. We always have a lot of fun on Valentine's Day at White Castle, and this year while having fun we are supporting a great cause in the American Red Cross. Our team members are dedicated to helping feed the souls of Cravers everywhere."

Customers who donate can show their support by placing paper Red Crosses on the wall at their local White Castle. The promotion runs through Feb. 13. On Feb. 14, White Castle will present a check to American Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern, who will be dining at a White Castle in New York City for Valentine's Day.

The mission of the American Red Cross is to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. Donations to the Red Cross help the organization provide safe shelter, food, emergency relief supplies, emotional support and health services to those in the wake of disasters.

White Castle holds a special place in the hearts of Gail McGovern and her husband, Don. More than 30 years ago, the couple went to a White Castle in the Bronx as part of their first date. Now – in celebration of their three decades of marriage – the McGoverns will once again dine at White Castle, in the restaurant located at 525 8^th Avenue in Manhattan.

"When we heard Gail McGovern's story, we knew that this was a great opportunity for her and Don to celebrate their loving relationship where it all began," said Richardson. "And we're happy that we could be part of it and to commemorate their first date."

The McGoverns will enjoy Valentine's Day dinner at 4 p.m., followed by the announcement of two special White Castle honors. Richardson will then present a check to Mrs. McGovern for the funds raised by Cravers in support of Red Cross disaster relief efforts.

For those interested in attending the Valentine's Day dinner at their local White Castle restaurant, better hurry because tables are booking fast. Reservations are required. This year, White Castle has expanded the dinner's hours because of the demand for reservations. Visit whitecastle.com to find information about the event hours and phone number to call to make reservations.

About White Castle
White Castle is a family-owned business based in Columbus, Ohio, that owns and operates more than 400 restaurants in 12 states. The company was founded in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921 and is America's first fast-food hamburger chain. All White Castle Sliders are made from 100 percent USDA inspected beef. White Castle's commitment to maintaining the highest quality products extends to the company owning and operating its own meat processing plants and bakeries. White Castle's loyalty program, Craver Nation, connects like-minded Cravers from around the globe in a social media setting. For more information on White Castle and Craver Nation, visit whitecastle.com and cravernation.whitecastle.com.

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

About Castle Shares
By feeding hunger, hope and dreams, the White Castle family helps build strong, thriving, Craver communities through the Castle Shares program. Founder Billy Ingram believed in taking care of people and giving back to the community. His philosophy still remains a focus of the family-owned business today. White Castle donates $2.1 million every year to a variety of charities across the nation, including $500,000 to Autism Speaks in 2012. The White Castle family supports more than 50 charities each year with volunteers, money and food donations.

SOURCE White Castle