Los Potrillos Mexican Restaurant donated 15 percent of its profits Friday to K-State’s Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research, with help from Sunny 102.5 broadcasters who waited tables and broadcast live.
While this is Los Potrillos’ first year sponsoring the event, Sunny 102.5 has been organizing fundraisers for the research center for 11 years. During this time, the radio station has raised more than $130,000.
“We felt that instead of giving away some prize like an exotic trip, we wanted to give something that directly benefits Manhattan,” program director John Anderson said. “K-State is such an important influence and integral part in the community. We felt that it was a more than worthy cause.”
This year, Los Potrillos’ donation added another $750 to the fund-raising total. The restaurant management decided to get involved, in an effort to contribute to the Manhattan community.
“This is rewarding for us because it makes us feel like a part of the community,” restaurant owner Claudia Pereyda said. “We are helping out the city of Manhattan that, in return, has supported my business.”
The research center is in Chalmers Hall. It provides research assistance to university faculty as well as education and training opportunities for students interested in medical fields. It also has a number of outreach programs designed to provide the public with information gathered in studies performed there. It relies on donations to fund several of its programs.
“All of the money we raise here goes directly to research,” Anderson said.
Friday was probably not the last time Los Potrillos will host an event like this, manager Armando Pereyda said.
“We try to do several things in the community each year,” he said. “We feel like this is a very important cause. Tonight will be an indication of what we do in conjunction with this in the future.”