First Watch, the leading Daytime Dining restaurant serving breakfast, brunch and lunch, announced that its support for the V Foundation for Cancer Research has exceeded $2,300,000 as the partnership moves into its fifth year. Since partnering in 2022, First Watch has donated a portion of every kid’s meal sold at its more than 630 locations nationwide to the V Foundation’s Dick Vitale Pediatric Cancer Research Fund, which funds innovative research that leads to breakthrough discoveries for children battling cancer.
“Small, everyday choices can have an extraordinary impact,” said Chris Tomasso, President and CEO of First Watch. “Through something as simple as ordering a Kid’s Meal, families are helping fund research that improves outcomes for children with cancer. We’re honored to support work that creates hope – and makes days brighter – for kids and their families.”
As a corporate partner, First Watch collaborates with the V Foundation and longtime Foundation board member Dick Vitale to strengthen awareness and funding, 100% of which goes directly to pediatric cancer research grants. First Watch is also proud to continue its ongoing sponsorship of the annual Dick VitaleGala to foster additional support; to date, more than $105 million has been raised for the V Foundation’s Dick Vitale Pediatric Cancer Research Fund since the inception of the gala.
In addition to its Kid’s Meal donations, First Watch has inspired customers during several of its local pre-opening Friends & Family events to contribute and be a part of the V Foundation’s mission. At these pre-opening events customers were welcomed with a complimentary meal, and the opportunity to donate the value of their experience to the V Foundation.
“We are so proud to partner with First Watch to meaningfully advance pediatric cancer research,” said Roger Ferguson, Chief Marketing Officer of the V Foundation for Cancer Research. “Through their extraordinary generosity – and that of their customers – this support funds high-impact research that drives new treatments, reduces side effects, and improves survival in some of the most hard-to-treat cancers for young patients. Together, we’re delivering true progress toward Victory Over Cancer®.”
First Watch’s partnership with the V Foundation is one part of its mission to make days brighter through community-based philanthropy. Over the years, First Watch has sparked charitable support with each of its new restaurant openings by encouraging customers to give back to local nonprofit organizations during its pre-opening events.
