Carino's Caring Culture

Most companies focus the first ten years on building revenues before contemplating corporate giving and volunteer programs. Carino’s partners, Creed Ford, III and Norman J. Abdallah, established The Carino’s Foundation during their first year of business and hosted a successful fundraiser just six months later. From the beginning, giving back to the communities we serve has always been a part of Carino’s Caring Culture.

The Carino's Foundation

Carino’s partners Norman J. Abdallah and Creed Ford, III present a check for $100,000 to Pat Furlong, Executive Director of Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, joined by Debbie Mauldin of The Carino’s Foundation.

The mission of the Carino's Foundation is to bring happiness, comfort, and hope to children in our communities. The Foundation provides financial support to charitable organizations assisting children and families in crisis through immediate and direct relief. Since its creation, The Carino’s Foundation has raised and donated over $1.2 million to support children’s charities.

Donations are given to charitable organizations offering services that improve and impact the lives of children and families. We focus on providing food, shelter and medical care for the disadvantaged.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Carino’s Italian is a national brand that owns, operates and franchises restaurants in 29 States. Carino’s recently named Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy as one of its National Children’s Charities. Relatively unknown, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is the most common and severe type of muscular dystrophy. Diagnosed during early childhood, Duchenne is a life-limiting progressive muscle disorder that causes loss of muscle function and independence.

Carino’s NASCAR driver, Brad Coleman hosts a family affected by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at the track.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy affects approximately one out of every 3,500 boys and 20,000 babies born each year worldwide. To date, there is no cure or treatment to stop the progression of Duchenne. The average life expectancy is less than 20 years; however, there is promising research that could impact this generation of children.

Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy’s mission is to improve the treatment, quality of life and long-term outlook for all boys affected by Duchenne through research, advocacy, education and compassion. Please join Carino’s and Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy in our fight against Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. To donate online, please visit www.parentprojectmd.org.

Carino's Monthly Charity Wine Dinners

Santa Peit arrives to the joy of children participating in the Capital Area Food Bank Kids Café after school programs.

Please accept our invitation to attend the next Carino’s Charity Wine Dinner and help us help children. Carino’s Italian restaurants host monthly Wine Dinners and donate all the proceeds to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and other children’s charities supported by The Carino’s Foundation.

Join us for a special Chef prepared four-course Carino’s Italian dinner served with complementing wines. Enjoy Carino’s fantastic food and help us provide financial assistance to children and families in need. To attend, please ask your Carino’s hostess or any staff member to make a reservation for you and your guests.

Carino's Cares Community Involvement and Volunteerism

Carino’s Cares personifies the sincere commitment of Carino’s officers, directors, managers, employees and staff members to the communities that they serve. Every year, Carino’s donates thousands of “Be Our Guest” certificates to hundreds of charity fundraisers and school functions. Carino’s restaurant managers donate and serve Carino’s exciting Italian food at numerous local charity fundraising events.

Carino’s Italian encourages all employees to actively volunteer through the Carino’s Cares campaign. Carino’s employees donate hundreds of toys for Carino’s annual Kids Café Christmas party. Volunteers serve Carino’s chocolate cake and ice cream to over 300 children who participate in Capital Area Food Bank Kids Café after school programs. When Santa Peit arrives, excitement fills the room as each child gets to select a Christmas toy to take home. For many of these children, this toy will be the only gift they will receive for the holidays.

Recent Foundation Donations:

• Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy: Founded by parents and grandparents of children affected by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Duchenne is a life-limiting progressive muscle disorder that causes loss of muscle function and independence. Duchenne is the most common and severe type of muscular dystrophy. To date, there is no cure or treatment for children affected by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The average life expectancy is less than 20 years; however, there is promising research that could impact the current generation of children. Parent Project for Muscular Dystrophy’s mission is to enhance the quality of treatment and speed the rate of scientific research that would lead to a cure for Duchenne. www.parentprojectmd.org
• American Red Cross: Providing relief to families affected by natural disasters. www.RedCross.org
• Ronald McDonald House: Offering shelter for families with critically-ill children. www.rmhc.com
• Capital Area Food Bank – Kids Cafe: Feeding over 350 elementary children a hot evening meal during the week at the Pecan Springs Elementary Schools Kids Café Program. www.austinfoodbank.org
• Children’s Hospital of Austin & Denver: No child is ever turned away; parents aren’t asked for payment until after the child is released from the hospital. www.childrenshospital.com and www.tchden.org
• Marbridge Foundation: Helping the cognitively challenged work towards independence. www.marbridge.org
• Kenny Can Foundation: Assisting brain cancer victims and their families with travel expenses as they go to hospitals that offer clinical trials with hope. www.kennycan.org
• Limbs for Life: Providing comfortable and fully-functional prosthetic care for children who cannot otherwise afford it. www.limbsforlife.org
• Star of Texas Rodeo: Promoting youth education – preserving our Western heritage. www.staroftexas.org
• St Peter, St James Children's Home: Giving children who have suffered physical abuse and neglect a safe and peaceful home. www.stpjhome.org
• Angelheart Children's Home: A safe place for children who have been removed from their homes due to neglect and physical abuse. www.angelheartshelter.org
• One World Theater Kids Reach Program: Teaching kids about the world and its people through music, dance and storytelling. www.oneworldtheater.org
• Caritas of Austin: Providing food, rent and utility assistance to families and individuals. Families avoid eviction and homelessness and thousands of meals are served daily thru the Community Kitchen. www.caritasofaustin.org

Make a Donation

If you would like to share your good fortune with others less fortunate, The Carino’s Foundation invites you to join our efforts by making a personal donation. Your donation will be used to provide direct and immediate relief to children and families in need. Even the smallest gift can make a difference in another's life.

Apply for Support

To apply for donations, your organization must:

• Submit a formal, written request from the requesting organization.
• Provide direct support to children and families in the communities we serve.
• Allow at least 30 days for us to respond.
  Note: Although we'd love to say yes to every request, we realistically cannot due to budget constraints or previous commitments.

Please include the following information in your donation request:

• The name of your organization and/or event
• A profile of your organization and its purpose
• Who is benefiting from this donation
• Your name and full contact information

If you would like to request a donation or make a donation to the Carino’s Foundation, please submit to:

The Carino's Foundation
Attn: Donations/Events
7500 Rialto Blvd.
Building One, Ste 250
Austin, TX 78735