Annual Eat’n Park fundraiser raises more than $325K for children’s hospitals

PITTSBURGH — Eat’n Park officials say its annual fundraiser that benefits children’s hospitals had a milestone year.

The 46th annual Caring for Kids campaign raised $329,381 — the most money raised in a year since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Those funds benefit more than a dozen children’s hospitals across 14 states with Eat’n Park locations, including UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

“Our team members are the heart and soul behind Caring for Kids. Year after year, they bring incredible creativity and talent to their fundraising efforts, from decorating water jugs for spare change to hosting community events in their restaurants,” said Trina DeMarco, director of community partnerships. “We could not do this without their support, and we are immensely grateful to our guests for giving to such a worthy cause each holiday season.”

Since this fundraising campaign started in 1979, more than $12 million has been raised for children’s hospitals.

Outside of the annual fundraiser, Eat’n Park Hospitality Group is honoring its roots in the Pittsburgh region through a $400,000 grant to support UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh’s new Heart Institute, which is under construction.

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