June 19, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Birmingham-based Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q restaurants have donated $10,000 to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Breast Health Center to help patients defray some of the costs associated with starting and completing breast cancer treatments.

The company’s donation will help provide gas cards, meal tickets and hotel vouchers for patients and their families if they are unable to cover some of the personal costs of traveling to The Kirklin Clinic at UAB for breast cancer treatments.

In some cases, the donation also may help some families with the costs of funeral arrangements for their loved ones.

“Breast cancer just touches so many lives. And it can be devastating to families,” said Sam Burn, a company spokesman for Jim ‘N Nick’s. “We decided several years back this was the kind of cause worth getting behind.”

For the past six years the restaurant’s owners and managers have partnered with the UAB Breast Health Center through its volunteer survivor group, Angel Squad. Jim ‘N Nick’s invites Angel Squad members to help staff its Trussville, Gardendale, Homewood, 5 Points South, U.S. 280 and Riverchase restaurants for a day each October to raise awareness about breast cancer and survivorship.

The Angel Squad members spend the day at the restaurants handing out cancer education literature and answering questions about screening, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. They also serve as greeters, offer to sell $10 Jim ‘N Nick’s gift certificates and explain why there is a National Mammography Day each October. All involved wear T-shirts printed with the Angel Squad logo during the day-long event.

“Through the generosity of donors like Jim ‘N Nick’s, we also are able to continue our mission of education and patient support,” said Mamie Van Dyke of the Angel Squad. “In addition to helping pay the personal expenses for some patients, we also have volunteers that aid in comforting patients, walking them through their treatment journey and helping them inform and comfort their families.”

Burn said Jim ‘N Nick’s managers and employees consider the Angel Squad and its mission a most worthy outlet for its corporate support.

“The Angel Squad stands out to us because they represent the power of community. They are a community of survivors that come together to help others, and make a difference in people’s lives,” Burn said.

For more information on the Angel Squad, go to Angel Squad. For more information on Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q restaurants got to www.jimnnicks.com.