Burger Joint Salutes Military Veterans & Families with Annual Stars for Heroes Campaign

Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s Support U.S. Veterans

CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc., parent company to Carl’s Jr.(R) and Hardee’s(R) restaurant chains kicks off its third annual Stars for Heroes(TM) fundraising campaign this week at participating restaurant locations.

The program harnesses the national reach of both brands and the generosity of its customers, franchisees and company employees to rally behind the nation’s military veterans and families.

Funds raised during this year’s campaign will assist those groups through national charity partnerships with American Red Cross, Dream Foundation and USA Cares, as well as through regional charities with existing ties to individual Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s restaurant communities.

The Stars for Heroes fundraising campaign begins in-store today at Hardee’s and April 24 at Carl’s Jr. and will run for three weeks. To participate, restaurant guests donate $1 in support of military charities. For each $1 donation, guests receive a commemorative “I am supporting military veterans and families” patriotic star-shaped cut out to personalize and place on display in the restaurant. They also receive restaurant coupons valued at more than $10 to use toward future purchases. Customers can also donate to the campaign online via the Stars for Heroes Facebook page: www.facebook.com/starsforheroes.

“Supporting our nation’s military is a cause important to our customers, employees and franchisees; it’s also a personal passion of mine,” said Andy Puzder, CEO of CKE Restaurants, Inc., the parent company for both Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s. “We’ve done some amazing things these past two years, in regard to both monetary fundraising and supporting the missions of our military charity partners on-the-ground. It’s all thanks to the incredible support and generosity of our franchise community – The Independent Hardee’s Franchise Association (IHFA) and Star Franchise Association (SFA) – along with our company employees and loyal customers.

I’m confident 2013 will be another successful year and am excited to see patriotic stars once again cover our restaurant walls. Stars for Heroes is our small way to show our appreciation and give back to those heroes who have given so much for us.”

Since its creation in 2011, the Stars for Heroes has raised close to $2 million to support more than 40 military charities across the country. Previous national beneficiaries include Homes for Our Troops, The Mission Continues and USA Cares. As noted above, funds raised in the 2013 campaign will assist national beneficiaries, the American Red Cross, Dream Foundation and USA Cares, as well as a variety of regional charities in Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s restaurant communities across the country.

“CKE Restaurants, Inc. has been a faithful partner to our Red Cross chapters for years and we’re excited to expand the relationship with a national focus on military services,” said Sherri Brown, senior vice president of Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces. “The Service to the Armed Forces program provides assistance to service members, veterans and their families during times of need, ranging from emergency communication services to reintegration support and financial assistance. The Stars for Heroes partnership helps us highlight these important offerings, and the funds raised will have a powerful impact for our military members in their times of need.”

“CKE Restaurants, Inc. and its franchisees are a longtime Partner In Dreams, helping us fulfill the final wishes of veterans and their families suffering life-threatening illness,” said Thomas Rollerson, Founder/President of Dream Foundation. “The financial support pledged for 2013 will help us fund the entire veteran segment of our dream service demographic. Additionally, Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s representatives continuously open their local restaurants and serve as ‘dream hosts,’ supplementing our dreamers’ wishes and enhancing the experience for all involved. It’s touching to see the Stars for Heroes program truly impact the lives of those we serve.”

“We are so excited to partner with CKE Restaurants and the Stars for Heroes program again for a third year,” said Peter Giusti, President of USA Cares. “As an organization that relies solely on donations for funding, the Stars for Heroes campaign not only provides us with the means to continue our services to active duty soldiers, veterans, Guard and Reserve members and their families, but also to raise public awareness of the need for the assistance programs that USA Cares provides across the country.”

The Stars for Heroes campaign is made successful through generous contributions by CKE employees, franchisees, customers and guests as well as private donations from organizations like Archway, a CKE partner that has donated in-restaurant print materials throughout the course of the Stars for Heroes fundraising campaign.

For more information or to donate to the campaign, visit Stars for Heroes on Facebook at www.facebook.com/StarsforHeroes. To learn more about the Stars for Heroes national beneficiaries, visit their websites at www.redcross.org, www.dreamfoundation.org and www.usacares.org.

About CKE Restaurants

CKE Restaurants, Inc. is a privately held company headquartered in Carpinteria, Calif. As of the end of fiscal 2013, the Company, through its subsidiaries, had a total of 3,318 franchised or company-operated restaurants in 42 states and 28 foreign countries and U.S. territories worldwide, including 1,369 Carl’s Jr.(R) restaurants and 1,944 Hardee’s(R) restaurants. For more information about CKE Restaurants, please visit www.ckr.com or its brand sites at www.carlsjr.com and www.hardees.com.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

About Dream Foundation

The mission of Dream Foundation is to enhance the quality of life for individuals and their families facing a life-threatening illness by fulfilling a heart’s final wish. The first and largest national wish-granting organization for adults, Dream Foundation enhances the quality of life for individuals and their families battling life-threatening illness. Dream recipients are those individuals who have been given a year or less life expectancy. Dreams range from basic need items, like a working stove, to bedside reunions and meaningful experiences with children and loved ones. Founded in 1994, Dream Foundation serves more than 2,500 dreams each year and relies on a network of volunteers, sponsors and individual donors. For more information, visit www.dreamfoundation.org or call (805) 564-2131.

About USA Cares

USA Cares, Inc. is a Kentucky-based national nonprofit that gives financial and advocacy support to post-9/11 military and their families as they move back into private life. With donations from the American public, USA Cares assists by giving grants when military families hit financial hardships caused by their service to our nation. USA Cares operates four core programs that address all critical needs affected by re-integration: Jobs for Vets, Housing Assistance, Warrior Treatment Today (for PTSD/TBI victims) and Basic Living Needs. Military families anywhere in America can apply for assistance through the USA Cares website, www.usacares.org or by calling 1-800-773-0387.