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Genesis BBQ donates to US Korean War veterans

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By Ko Dong-hwan
  • Published KST
  • Updated KST

Honor Flight Network's Chief of Staff Marion Watkins, center, receives a $10,000 cheque from Genesis BBQ at the fried chicken franchise's restaurant in Arlington County, Virginia, Nov. 13. Genesis BBQ and operators of its chains in the U.S. collected the money and donated it to Honor Flight Network, which supports U.S. veterans from the Korean War, to celebrate Veterans Day in the U.S. Courtesy of Genesis BBQ

Genesis BBQ in the United States has donated to American veterans of the Korean War with money collected from the franchise's American restaurants and from the headquarters in Korea, the fried chicken franchise said Wednesday.

The company donated $10,000 to Honor Flight Network, a non-profit organization in the U.S. that transports American veterans to Washington D.C. for free to honor and celebrate their services in the war.

The donation campaign began on Veterans Day in the U.S. on Nov. 11 when the franchise's restaurants in the U.S. launched a discount event for American soldiers who retired or are still serving. Beneficiaries enjoyed a 25 percent discount in participating BBQ restaurants across the U.S.

Operators of the participating restaurants then separately pooled a charity fund in an amount corresponding to how much their restaurants collectively sold under the campaign. They donated the funds to the company's headquarters.

The company added the extra money to make the entire fund $10,000 before donating it to Honor Flight Network.

"We are glad to have expanded our market to the U.S. and be given this opportunity to express our gratitude to the U.S. veterans," an official from the company said. "Our brand will keep paying society back with meaningful philanthropic activities in other countries as well."

The company has already been offering exclusive discounts to police officers and firefighters in the U.S. in a campaign to spread a culture that pays due respect to patriots. On Nov. 15 the company received a plaque from the New York Police Department in recognition of its campaign and contribution to keeping Korean communities in New York City safe.