Hooters suffered a tremendous loss with the passing of 1998 Hooters Calendar Cover Girl, Manager, and Cancer Fighting Symbol Kelly Jo Dowd, who passed away at her home in Palm Harbor, Florida. Kelly Jo, who was one of the original Hooters Girls at the popular chains first location in Clearwater, Florida, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002 and spent the last five years of her life battling this dreaded disease. Through the struggle, she was courageous and selfless, becoming an advocate for early detection, education and fundraising in the battle against breast cancer within the Hooters organization.
In 2006 Hooters partnered with the V Foundation for Cancer Research and established a $2 Million Breast Cancer Research Grant in Dowd’s name. The company also launched an awareness and early detection educational program using videos featuring Kelly Jo that has been viewed by thousands.
For the third consecutive year, Hooters Girls across the country have been raising money for the cause through local fundraising efforts including the sale of pink Hooters Girl uniform cutouts at the restaurants. A check will be presented to the V Foundation in Miami during the Hooters International Swimsuit Pageant on July 23rd to further fund the Kelly Jo Dowd Breast Cancer Research Grant.
Kelly Jo was 42 years old when she passed and is survived by husband, Mike and daughter Dakoda. In 2006, 13 year old Dakoda was awarded a coveted sponsor’s exemption in a LPGA Tour event in Orlando, Florida. The offer was in response to her mother’s public wish to see her daughter play on the LPGA tour. ESPN covered the event and brought national attention to this emotional story and further honored the Dowd family when Dakoda’s playing golf to honor her mother was selected as a “Best Moment” at the 2006 ESPY awards.
Kelly Jo’s efforts have affected the 17,000 current Hooters Girls as well as past and future generations. Based on the statistic that approximately 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, as many as 2,400 current Hooters Girls could be at risk. Clearly the company is committed to lowering these numbers.
Kelly Jo, Our Amazing Grace
3/10/65 - 5/24/07
If you would like to make a contribution to the Kelly Jo Dowd breast cancer research fund visit your local Hooters Restaurant or make checks payable to Hooters Community Endowment Fund (HOO.C.E.F.) and send it to the address below.
HOA Restaurant Group, LLC
Attention: Alexis Aleshire – KJD Fund
1815 the Exchange
Atlanta, GA 30339