Chuck E. Cares (CEC Cares)
Charity Logo
The CEC Cares Employee Relief Fund (Also known as Chuck E. Cares Family Assistance Program) is an employee relief fund for unexpected financial crises and hardships of Chuck E. Cheese and Peter Piper Pizza employees that started on March 30, 2000.
Fund Collection
The funds are acquired through payroll deductions, direct contributions, CEC product sales, and golf tournaments. As of 2013, the company stated that all employee contributions would be matched by CEC Corporate up to a maximum of $20,000 per year.[1]
On May 10th of 2022, the annual CEC Foundation Fund charity golf tournament was held, raising over $110,000. The money was split between the CEC Entertainment Foundation Fund, the CEC Opportunity Scholarship Fund, and CEC Cares. The Tulsa Community Foundation received the initial deposit before funding it to CEC.[2]
Distribution
Funds have been sent to employees under certain hardships and circumstances. The company has noted such examples as house/apartment fires[1], tornado/hurricane damage[1], funeral expenses[1], lost wages due to major illness or severe injury to an employee or their immediate family[1], medical emergencies[2], disasters[2], and the COVID-19 Pandemic[2].
Between the start of 2020 and May of 2022, the CEC Cares fund has reported a total of $325,000 distributed amongst employees. 750 were granted within the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and 84 employees who suffered Hurricane Ida in September of 2021 were given funds as well.