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"Nearly every moment of every day we have the opportunity to give something
to someone else-our time, our love, our resources. I have always found more joy
in giving when I did not expect anything in return."
- Quote from Eat Mor
Chikin: Inspire More People by S. Truett Cathy, published 2002.
S. Truett Cathy is founder and chairman of Chick-fil-A, Inc. Cathy started
the business in 1946, when he and his brother, Ben, opened an Atlanta diner
known as The Dwarf Grill (later renamed The Dwarf House). Currently, there are
more than 1,489 restaurants in 38 states and Washington D.C. Today, Chick-fil-A
is the second-largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain in the United
States based on annual sales.
Cathy's approach is largely driven by personal satisfaction and a sense of
obligation to the community and its young people. His WinShape Foundation,
founded in 1984, grew from his desire to "shape winners" by helping young people
succeed in life through scholarships and other youth-support programs. The
foundation annually awards 20 to 30 students wishing to attend Berry College
with scholarships up to $32,000 that are jointly funded by WinShape and Berry.
In addition, through its Leadership Scholarship Program, the Chick-fil-A chain
has given more than $25 million in $1,000 scholarships to Chick-fil-A restaurant
employees since 1973. This year the company will award more than $1.4 million in
scholarships to its restaurant team members. Cathy built his life and business
based on hard work, humility and biblical principles. Based on these principles,
all of Chick-fil-A's restaurants operate with a "Closed-on-Sunday" policy, -
without exception.
As part of his WinShape Homes® program - a long-term care program for foster
children - eight foster care homes have been started in Georgia, two in
Tennessee and one each in Alabama and Brazil that are operated by Cathy and the
WinShape Foundation. These homes, accommodating up to 12 children with two
full-time foster parents, provide long-term care for foster children with a
positive family environment.
Cathy has received countless awards over the years, including: William E.
Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership (2008); Paul M. Kuck Legacy Award
(2008); President's Call to Service Award (2008); The Cecil B. Day Ethics Award
(2007); The Silver Buffalo Award presented by the Boy Scouts of America (2007);
Tom Landry Excellence of Character Award (2007); Greater Dallas FCA Lifetime
Achievement Award from the National Poultry & Food Distributors Association
(2005); Norman Vincent & Ruth Stafford Peale Humanitarian Award (2003);
Catalyst Lifetime Achievement Award from Injoy/John Maxwell (2003); Georgia
Sports Hall of Fame - Chairman's Award (2003); the Ernst & Young-
Entrepreneur of the Year - Lifetime Achievement Award (2000); and Horatio Alger
Award - Horatio Alger Association, Washington, D.C. (1989) He
also is the author of It’s Easier to
Succeed Than to Fail (Thomas Nelson Publishing, 1989); Eat Mor Chikin: Inspire More People
(Looking Glass Books, 2002); It’s Better
to Build Boys Than Mend Men (Looking Glass Books, 2004); and How Did You Do It, Truett? (Looking
Glass Books, 2007); and he is co-author of The Generosity Factor with Ken Blanchard
(Zondervan Publishing, 2002).
In addition to presiding over one of the most successful restaurant chains in
America, Cathy is a dedicated husband, father and grandfather. His two sons, Dan
and Don ("Bubba"), have both followed their father in learning the business from
the ground-up. Dan became president of Chick-fil-A in August 2001 and Bubba is
senior vice president of Chick-fil-A, Inc., president of the Chick-fil-A Dwarf
House division and vice president of the WinShape Foundation. His daughter,
Trudy Cathy White serves as the Girls' Director with WinShape Camps. In 2006,
Cathy welcomed the third generation of Cathy family members to the business.
Truett Cathy and his wife, Jeannette, have 12 grandchildren, seven
great-grandchildren (as of Febraury 2010) and more than 150 "foster
grandchildren."
Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality is the highest honor bestowed
by the NRAEF. It is presented each May to an individual who is a member of the
NRAEF’s College of Diplomates and who is recognized as an outstanding leader in
the restaurant and foodservice industry.