Camping World Holdings has announced that it has raised more than $500,000 to provide relief to local restaurants and meals to food-insecure communities through donations to the Plating Change program.
With the assistance of associates, customers and corporate sponsors, this effort is being executed at more than 170 Camping World and Gander RV & Outdoors retail locations and support continues to grow, the company said.
The Plating Change program falls under the newly launched The Lemon-Aid Foundation where Marcus Lemonis, chairman and CEO of Camping World, pledged $50M to champion his charitable mission of supporting and investing in countless underserved communities and small businesses while creating awareness. Since the inception, close to $2 million dollars has been deployed.
“My goal is to keep Main Street USA alive and well during the economic troubles that COVID-19 has brought to our small business owners,” said Lemonis. “I also want to recognize and thank all employees and customers that have unselfishly supported this initiative to feed our most vulnerable community members.”
Through Camping World’s recent sponsorship of the Maui Invitational 2020 Tournament, held Nov. 30-Dec. 2 in Asheville, N.C., the company pledged to donate $3,000 for every three-point field goal made. Based on 163 three-pointers throughout the tournament, $489,000 in funds will be allocated to restaurants in each school’s local community who will then in turn provide free meals to those in need, with $81,500 from the grand total being allocated directly to the Maui Food Bank. Communities that will be assisted with these funds include Austin, Texas; Davidson, N.C.; Bloomington, Ind.; Providence, R.I.; Chapel Hill, N.C.; Las Vegas; St. Helena, Calif.; and Tuscaloosa, Ala.
“As an organization, we are passionate about giving back, especially to the communities in which our customers and employees reside in, work and play,” said Tamara Ward, chief operating officer of Camping World. “It is our hope that we are able to provide some relief and support during these challenging times to those that have been adversely affected across the country.”
