For more than 100 years, White Castle has operated on the motto that happy employees make happy customers. With the pandemic impacting the restaurant chain’s ability to really connect with its customers and give back to the community, one Minneapolis district asked its employees to help identify a good cause the restaurants could rally around. They chose St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
“We gathered ideas from our employees, and everyone resonated with wanting to help kids with cancer,” said Nikki Meyer, district manager, Minneapolis region, at White Castle. “As a family-owned company, we really do see ourselves as a big family, and it was really important to us that St. Jude treats not only the patient, but the whole family.
“Many of our team members know someone that has been impacted by cancer or have even gone through cancer treatment themselves.”
Tori Robinson, assistant general manager at White Castle, was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, an eye cancer, at birth. “Supporting the kids of St. Jude really hits home. It’s incredible that St. Jude freely shares all its research around the world. I know the difference that it makes.”
These personal stories inspire the White Castle teams to ask customers to round up their order for St. Jude.
“When we have the opportunity to talk to customers, you hear their stories and you really form a personal connection,” said Theresa Kaszubski, regional director at White Castle. “Customers are an extension of our family and its powerful to know that the White Castle family is able to support families at St. Jude.”
White Castle regular, Vern, stops into the restaurant on most days and donated to St. Jude at each visit. “Even after the round up program was over, he still asked to donate,” said Megan Chandler, general manager at White Castle.
Vern recalls St. Jude founder, Danny Thomas, speaking at his St. Paul, Minnesota, church when Vern was an altar boy. “I met Danny Thomas, and he was so adamant about his vision for the hospital,” said Vern. “He really believed in what he was talking about and inspired me to want to help the kids. I’ve been doing it ever since.”
Friendly competition fuels White Castle’s round up for St. Jude campaign. “We update the donations daily to see which team member or restaurant is leading,” said Megan. “Most of the time, our employees don’t want to be on the cash register, but with the St. Jude round up, everyone wants to be on and make it happen.”
Danny Thomas said that he would rather receive one dollar from a million people, than one million dollars from one person.
White Castle’s team and customers are a true example of the power of coming together, one slider at a time.
White Castle’s team and customers are a true example of the power of coming together, one slider at a time.
