A winning partnership between Whataburger and the Dallas Cowboys has scored $200,000 to help The Salvation Army of North Texas provide brighter futures for local students. 

Guests at Whataburger’s more than 180 restaurants across the Dallas-Fort Worth area made donations that will help The Salvation Army fund children and youth programs, including their Project Tomorrow program, which provides scholarships for gifted and talented at-risk middle school and high school students.

Whataburger guests who donated received a coupon for a free Whataburger as a thank-you for their part in making the fundraiser a success. The donation, announced at halftime of the Cowboys' game against the Philadelphia Eagles, was the culmination of a month-long fundraiser that began on Thanksgiving, and kicked off with a special meal at Youth Education Town.  

Timely Support

The funding comes in a year of amplified needs, with more families struggling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Now, more than ever, at-risk children need the support of our programs so they can live up to their fullest potential and attend college, and your generous donations will serve them during a critical time,” said Major Todd Hawks, Area Commander of The Salvation Army of North Texas. “Community partners are vital to making our work possible, and we want to thank Whataburger and the Dallas Cowboys for keeping this important mission alive this holiday season.”

The fundraiser is part of Whataburger’s Feeding Student Success program, a companywide initiative to support students across the communities the brand serves.

“Many children in our area struggle with difficult life circumstances and limited access to educational resources, and The Salvation Army of North Texas goes above and beyond to provide resources to support them,” said Whataburger Division Vice President Mark Brown. “Whataburger’s Feeding Student Success program is all about investing in our students. Together with the Dallas Cowboys, we can make a real difference for DFW children by helping to remove obstacles to student success.”

“The Dallas Cowboys are proud of the role we play in supporting our local community,” said Dallas Cowboys Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer, Charlotte Jones. “That’s why we’re excited to team up with Whataburger and our community partner, The Salvation Army, to once again help tackle the critical need for funding local youth programs, and give at-risk kids the best opportunity at overcoming difficult situations.”

About Whataburger

Whataburger has served up its fresh, made-to-order burgers and friendly customer service since 1950, when Harmon Dobson opened the first Whataburger as a small roadside burger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas. Today, the company is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, with more than 840 locations in 10 states and sales of more than $2.5 billion annually. Whataburger has 50,000 Family Members (employees) and more than 14 million customers who like to customize their Whataburgers just the way they like it. Newsweek ranked Whataburger second on its 2021 list of America’s Best Customer Service brands in the Fast Food category. Visit whataburger.com for more information.

About Gene and Jerry Jones Family Foundation

In the area of community service, Gene and Jerry Jones Family Foundation’s mission is built upon an overall philosophy of helping those who don't have the strength, the resources or the means to help themselves. As a sports entity that has enjoyed unprecedented success and recognition for six decades, the Dallas Cowboys feel a very strong obligation to transfer that championship tradition and the magic that it creates toward the bigger purpose of making a difference in the community. More information about the Dallas Cowboys is available at www.dallascowboys.com.

About The Salvation Army of North Texas

The Salvation Army of North Texas provides a range of services to combat poverty, addiction, and homelessness at 17 centers of operation in Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Denton and Ellis counties. Faithful to our mission, The Salvation Army enables God-empowered transformations of individuals and society through food assistance, shelter, rehabilitation, counseling, spiritual support, mentoring and job placement, and more. For more information, visit www.SalvationArmyNorthTexas.org.