GPS Hospitality, one of the nation’s largest BURGER KING® franchisees, today proudly announces that it has awarded 337 scholarships to students in eleven states this graduation season through the BURGER KING McLAMORE℠ Foundation.
Funded by local restaurants through their guests’ generous donations, students named BURGER KING℠ Scholars receive $1,000 scholarships to further their educational advancement – joining more than 3,200 other recipients throughout North America that were awarded a collective $3.5 million in 2017.
The BURGER KING Scholars selected for the 2017 program from St. Bernard Parish include:
- Kaya Lawrence, Chalmette High School
- Renee Vaquez, Chalmette High School
“We are honored to recognize the achievements of this year’s McLamore scholarship recipients. We believe in their capacity to succeed through hard work, and we wish them well with their continued academic pursuits,” said Tom Garrett, CEO of GPS Hospitality. “We would also like to thank the members of our restaurant teams for helping fund these grants, which wouldn’t be possible without their support. These scholarships truly make an impact on the lives they touch and in the communities they serve.”
GPS Hospitality restaurants participated in both the Spring and Fall McLAMORE Foundation fundraisers in 2016, which generated $337,000 in $1 donations. Since its inception in 2000, the Foundation has awarded more than 30,000 scholarships to high school seniors, BURGER KING® employees, their spouses/domestic partners and children across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, resulting in $31.8 million in grants to students in local communities.
This year’s recipients were selected by the BURGER KING McLAMORE℠ Foundation based on their grade point average, extracurricular activities, community service and work experience.
“Investing in thousands of students each year is our way of advancing education,” said Amanda Israel, executive director, BURGER KING McLAMORE℠ Foundation. “These regional awards represent the top students across the nation who are working towards creating a brighter future for everyone.”
The BURGER KING Scholars program is the BURGER KING McLAMORE Foundation’s flagship program, established to honor the legacy of the BURGER KING brand’s co-founder James W. McLamore, whose commitment to philanthropy and education made him a pillar of community service throughout his lifetime.
For more information on the program, including instructions for 2018 scholarship applications, please visit www.bkmclamorefoundation.org.
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About GPS Hospitality
Founded in 2012, GPS Hospitality is a BURGER KING® and Popeyes® Louisiana Kitchen franchisee, operating 385 restaurants in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. GPS Hospitality seeks to become our guests’ favorite QSR destination by implementing our brand values of being Goal Focused, People Oriented and Service Obsessed. For more information, please visit www.gpshospitality.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.
About the Burger King McLamore℠ Foundation
The BURGER KING McLAMORE℠ Foundation is a U.S. based 501(c)(3) public nonprofit that believes without education you limit your potential to be your own way. Inspired by BURGER KING® Restaurants co-founder, Jim McLamore, its mission is to create brighter futures by empowering individuals and feeding potential through education and emergency relief. As a global Foundation, the BURGER KING McLAMORE℠ Foundation partners with select nonprofits focusing on scholarships, literacy, and creating sustainable learning environments. To learn more, visit bkmclamore.org.
About Burger King Worldwide
Founded in 1954, the BURGER KING® brand is the second largest fast food hamburger chain in the world. The original HOME OF THE WHOPPER®, the BURGER KING® system operates more than 15,000 locations in more than 100 countries and U.S. territories. Almost 100 percent of BURGER KING® restaurants are owned and operated by independent franchisees, many of them family-owned operations that have been in business for decades. To learn more about the BURGER KING® brand, please visit the BURGER KING®brand website at www.bk.com or follow BK on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
