CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.—Plaza Tire Service and its customers raised nearly $12,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital during the 4th Annual St. Jude “Give Thanks, Give Hope” campaign earlier this year.
During the campaign, Plaza Tire asked its customers to pledge $1 for the hospital, which conducts research and treatment for children fighting cancer and other deadly diseases. The total raised was $11,712. It joined more than 2,600 grocery stores, restaurants and retail stores across the U.S. that raised more than $1.6 million for St. Jude, Plaza Tire said.
Memphis-based St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to treating children. It was founded in 1962 by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, who believed that “no child should die in the dawn of life.”
Cape Girardeau-based Plaza Tire operates 57 retail stores throughout its four-state marketing area, including 41 in Missouri. The others are in southern Illinois, western Kentucky and northeast Arkansas.
The dealership is the 14th largest independently owned retail tire dealership in the U.S., according to Tire Business' annual rankings.