Boo at the Zoo Every Halloween Pancho’s supports local zoos in areas such as Fort Worth, Dallas and Phoenix. In an effort to provide a fun and safe environment, Pancho’s donates pralines and coupons to these zoos where children from the surrounding areas trick-or-treat, play games, and observe various animal life. Food Drives The holidays are a time when families give thanks for what they have as well as lend a hand to those families in need. We, at Pancho’s have a lot to be thankful for and, in turn, enjoy the luxury of being able to give to the communities around our stores. This fall and winter Pancho’s has teamed with food banks in the DFW Metroplex and greater Phoenix area to support canned food drives at the schools. Individual classes in each school that collect the most food receive free buffet passes. The class that collects the most food per school district is thrown a Mexican fiesta topped off with our world famous sopaipillas. Pancho’s + FWISD + United Way = Holiday Spirit We can all learn something from the children and their holiday spirit. Pancho’s has recognized this once again in our partnership with the Fort Worth ISD to raise money for United Way. FWISD has challenged children across the city to bring in their pennies every day and give them to United Way. Pancho’s will reward the four winning classes with a plaque recognizing their sacrifice at the monthly School Board meeting and special catered ice-cream party at the respective schools. Pancho’s has also committed to the up-start mentoring program that the FWISD will unveil after the first of the year. Pancho’s has pledged restaurant resources as well as mentors for the children participating. La Posada Now in our 30th year, Pancho's is proud to again bring Christmas to underprivileged children in the Fort Worth, TX area. This year, we will bring Christmas to the orphan children of the All Church Home (children's home). We will close the doors of our Wedgwood location on the Morning of December 22, 2003, and the Pancho's elves will host Christmas for these children. This years sponsors include: Maze Signs, Coca-Cola, The Printing Store, La Espiga De Oro, Vaughan Foods, Hanks Brokerage, Steward Printing, Deen Wholesale Meat Company, Bianco Bro. Manufacturing and the Fort Worth Cats Laura Guthrie’s Wish As everyone knows, that Make-a-Wish foundation has been granting terminally ill children’s wishes for many years. Recently, a birthday party at Pancho’s happened to be one of the wishes on Laura Guthrie’s list. It was Pancho’s honor and great privilege to grant her this wish complete with a Dora the Explorer Doll that, as we understand it, was not laid down for weeks. The last Pancho’s heard, Laura was fighting with all her heart and we continue to wish the absolute best for her and her family. Killeen Parks and Recreation 2003-2004 Killeen, TX, Partners in Parks Sponsor Our sponsorship in Killeen ensures the continuum of their annual Halloween Carnival, Turkey Trot, Summer Nights Concert Series, Jingle Bell Run and two Little League baseball teams. East Texas State Fair State fairs are a big deal in any city lucky enough to hold one. Pancho’s was fortunate enough to support the East Texas State Fair in Tyler, Texas by contributing money and a booth that gave away free buffet passes Partners in Education, Dallas ISD. Pancho's is proud to join forces as partners in education with 23 schools in Area 6 of the Dallas Independent School District. The first project we have jointly teamed with Area 6 is the Toiletries for Troops Drive. The drive began on April 18th, 2003 and will end with a drop off at Sunset High School in Dallas on Friday April 25, 2003. Local Marines & ROTC will be on hand to help collect. Pancho's is awarding the class that collects the most an all school ice cream party, And the class out of each school that wins will receive free buffet passes. This is the first of many joint ventures with Area 6 and Pancho's. TEAM, Ft. Worth ISD. TEAM, a mentoring program specially developed to encourage Fort Worth youth to stay in school, will officially kick off on May 21, 2003 at the Pancho's on Camp Bowie West in Fort Worth, Texas. There will be two local high school marching bands, plenty of food for all, piñatas filled with lots of candy, as well as a great atmosphere to introduce the youth and local mentors. Helping Extinguish Hunger!! Pancho's was a proud sponsor of the North Texas Food Banks and the Dallas Firefighters annual "Extinguish Hunger" campaign. With our $1,000 kick-off donation, we helped feed an estimated 1,200 area kids cafe children.