Culver's Scoopie Fundraiser Helping Community Charities

Richard Myers is surprised, amazed and excited to see so many organizations trying to help others. He sees this every week as a manager of Culver’s of Huntley’s Scoopie nights.

Scoopie Night is a fundraiser local charities can hold at the restaurant, 13240 Illinois 47, to raise money. Myers oversees the fundraisers. 

Scoopie nights usually are held from September to May, but Culver’s of Huntley is expanding it to the summer months this year. The Huntley restaurant’s program has become a model for other franchises, Myers said, adding the fundraiser slots on Monday and Tuesday nights are filling up for the summer.

“These (groups) are doing phenomenal jobs in meeting needs,” Myers said.

An example is Habitat for Humanity of McHenry County. Habitat for Humanity builds homes for lower income families and has done numerous Scoopie nights at Culver’s, he said.

“I believe in the grassroots effort,” Myers said. “If people support one another, it goes a long way.”

Charities have the opportunity to generate up to 20 percent of the receipts during a four-hour shift, he said. Volunteers must be present and work alongside Culver’s staff, delivering meals, during that period.

Volunteers with the charities spread the word about the fundraiser and drive the traffic, Myers said. Scoopie Night can be successful for charities, which can raise anywhere from $50 to $1,000 for the night depending on how much traffic they generate.

Then there’s the 50/50 raffles, which must be approved by the village, and the tip jars, each of which raises additional monies, he said. The charities are getting creative, Myers said.

Habitat for Humanity started bringing in a piece of plywood and letting people sign a message to homeowners for a donation. The message is there forever, he said.

Customers like Scoopie night because they are spending money anyway on dinner while helping others in their own community, he said.

“It’s a multifaceted evening,” Myers said. “It’s a way to give back to the community and a way to bring people together. It becomes a social event. It can be a team-builder and give you an incentive to reach out to the community with your message. It’s good for everybody.”

The list of charities is long; some are established charities while others are new. There are many issues too. From Relay for Life to an Alzheimer’s group to PTAs, he said.

A new charity is One Neighbor at a Time, benefiting Pembroke Township Project, organized by Kathleen Wiedenfeld. She is a Huntley resident who is trying to help residents in poverty-stricken Pembroke Township, in Kankakee County.

“Culver’s is terribly generous,” she said.

Her charity raised $310 from food sales on May 22 and donations and raffles brought in an additional $560, she said. The staff kept her updated on the food sale progress and how much more was needed to get into the next percentage bracket, she said.

“Culver’s is very helpful in planning the events and is anxious to share what has helped other not-for-profits be successful,” Wiedenfeld said. “I am grateful to Culver's for their enthusiasm and generosity!”

Wiedenfeld, who attended Monday's Scoopie for a Susan G. Komen 3-Day team has already signed up for additional dates: Tuesday, Sept. 18, and Tuesday, Dec. 11.

Myers thinks there are so many charities in Huntley willing to help others “because Huntley people appreciate and embrace life. The community has grown a lot but maintains that small-town family approach to life.”