Lighthouse Family Retreat Fundraiser

Fundraiser to benefit families living through childhood cancer.

Once again Ponder Enterprises has partnered with Lighthouse Family Retreat in a fundraiser to support their mission to serve families living through childhood cancer by helping them to laugh, restore family relationships and find hope in God.  Lighthouse Family Retreat does this each year by hosting over 130 families at a free week long beach retreat.

“We are very excited about our partnership with Lighthouse.  They are a great organization working hard to serve these hurting families.  Last year we raised $6,000.  And with just a few days under our belt this year we have already raised $867.  I hope that our patrons will join us and support Lighthouse as they continue their wonderful ministry,” said Ponder Enterprises Director of Marketing, Elizabeth Faulk. 

For a single dollar donation at any of Ponder Enterprises' 24 Hardee’s, customers will sign a Lighthouse to hang in the restaurant, receive over $10 in coupons and be entered to win football tickets.  The tickets coincide with each state that Ponder Enterprises has restaurants.  There are two tickets to the UGA/GA Tech game, two to the FSU/UF game and two tickets for the Auburn/AL game.  The tickets will be raffled off amongst the restaurants in each respective state.

A total of 24 restaurants will participate.  100% of the proceeds will go to Lighthouse Family Retreat.

Lighthouse Family Retreat is whole-heartedly committed to serve these hurting families so they can experience one of the most memorable weeks of their lives…and enjoy a week as if cancer doesn’t exist.

Abbeville and Crawfordville Ribbon Cuttings

We officially kicked off our finished remodeled restaurants in Abbeville and Crawfordville with ribbon cuttings with their local Chambers of Commerce.  Both restaurants are beautiful and we were happy to have guests come out and join us for the special days.

Ribbon Cutting in Abbeville

Guests enjoying the Hardee's goodies and coupons

Ribbon Cutting in Crawfordville

Ponder Enterprises will start its next remodel the end of October in its hometown of Donalsonville, GA.  More to come!

Chicken Tender Day

Friday, September 9th, the Hardee's of Donalsonville held a Chicken Tender Day in hopes of breaking its own previous national record set last year.

In 2010, after the successful roll out of the Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders, Corporate started looking around to find out who had the single biggest Chicken Tender sales on a single day.  The Hardee's of Donalsonville fell just short of the top, only 21 tenders behind first place.  The top restaurant in America had sold 1142 and Donalsonville had sold 1121 on the Friday before the 4th of July.  Determined to be #1, the Hardee's of Donalsonville rallied the town around this mission and they succeeded.  On September 3, 2010, they sold 2511 Chicken Tenders in one day setting a new national record.  With the help of the Quarterback Club from Seminole County High School, businesses around town, travelers just passing through to the beach, and all our local customers they became the best in the nation.

This year we fell just short of topping last year's numbers.  Donalsonville sold 1752 in a single day, another great record to be proud of.  The day started out with Coach Ingram from Seminole County joining us during a radio remote to discuss that night's football game against Early County.  Continuing the excitement throughout the entire day, Hardee's raffled off prizes every hour until the football game started that night.

Coach Ingram on Live 101.9

Thanks to our many vendors that donated the exceptional prizes - HED, Dr. Pepper, Comcast Spotlight and Culumlus Tallahassee.  Prizes included 200 piece tool sets, NFL game ball, Oakley sunglasses, hats, ESPN coolers, tickets to Univeral Studios in Orlando, tickets to a Cirque du Soleil performance in Tallahassee, and a Getaway for 2 with a choice for 21 different destination locations to choose from.

Dan's Birthday Cake

HAPPY BIRTHDAY & WAR EAGLE!

Hardee's of Abbeville is Looking Good

Have you been North on 431 lately?  Driven through Abbeville?  If you have, then I'm sure you've noticed that bright, shiny new red roof on the Hardee's.

The Hardee's of Abbeville remodel was completed last week.  You can't help but smile when you walk in this store.  Everything looks great.  Next time you are passing through be sure to stop in and take a look.

Abbeville Remodel Underway

If I had to pick one word to describe the current life of Ponder Enterprises it would be Remodels.

Many months of planning go into each remodel.  Besides all the scopes and leg work that have to take place prior to decision time, once you decide its time to remodel you're about six weeks out and basically hit the ground running with ordering of equipment and lining up contractors.

This week we started remodeling the restaurant in Abbeville, AL.  After it is completed, only three remain out of our 24 restaurants.  Here are a few pictures I took yesterday in the early stages.

Repairing the Drive Thru

Making the old playground a picnic area - cutting the fence in half

Demolition inside the dining room

Bainbridge Ribbon Cutting

The recently remodeled restaurant in Bainbridge had its official ribbon cutting with the local Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, August 11th.  Lunch specials were advertised in the paper, offering a free small fry and drink with the purchase of the new Hand-Breaded Chicken Fillet Sandwich and 2 for $4 Turkey Burgers.  Coupons and goodies were also given out to those in attendance.

The Hardee's Star made a special appearance.  One little girl in particular was fascinated watching him wave to the cars passing by and couldn't take her eyes off the Star when he came inside.

If you are in SW Georgia, be sure to stop in and see our new look at the Hardee's of Bainbridge, located at 1000 E. Shotwell St.