It was a home run for America’s veterans on Nov. 13 when Raising Cane’s teamed up with Paul Skenes for a game-changing donation.
The Pittsburgh Pirates star pitcher was on hand at the restaurant in Royal Palm Beach, Florida, to dish out Box Combos from the front counter and the drive-thru to the men and women who served our nation in honor of Veterans’ Day.
Attendees delighted in meeting the two-time MLB All-Star pitcher and Cy Young Award winner, who beamed with joy as he took time to greet them and sign baseball bats in between dishing out meals.
It was a day of celebration mixed with heartwarming compassion as the day turned into a presentation of a $500,000 donation for the Gary Sinise Foundation – a nonprofit founded by actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise that supports America’s veterans, first responders, and their families – which was raised in partnership with Raising Cane’s.
Skenes accepted the funds on behalf of the foundation, which was a surprise double amount from a prior commitment by the restaurant.
With his signature quiet pride style, the talented, yet remarkably humble baseball player and advocate summed up the deeply meaningful donation, saying funds will be used by the Gary Sinise Foundation in a variety of ways to help veterans and their families.
The sports icon unveiled, “This partnership is special. Cane’s is a household name, so for them to be willing to partner with the Gary Sinise Foundation is very selfless.”
The act of generosity sent waves of goodwill across the restaurant as the veteran community took part in the special event.
“Not many people actually do stuff for veterans. They are few and far between. When you find somebody who actually cares and really wants to give back, I always like to show up. I support my country, but I also support the people who are trying to back that up,” said Navy veteran Michael Evans in the crowd.
Before the ceremony to accept a check, Skene further backed up the idea of doing things for the community that filled the restaurant at the event and beyond.
“This partnership is special. Cane’s is a household name, so for them to be willing to partner with the Gary Sinise Foundation is very selfless,” said the player. ‘If you really think about it, baseball is pretty low on the totem pole of things that matter in this world. It’s really easy to get wrapped up in the game, but the highs and the lows in baseball aren’t adversity, definitely not to the extent that the men and women who fight for our country face adversity, so it really puts things in perspective.”
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 13: Paul Skenes (R) works Raising Cane’s “shift” supporting veterans through a check donation event to the Gary Sinise Foundation at Raising Cane’s on November 13, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for Raising Cane’s )
Raising Cane’s owner and founder, Todd Graves, took time to make a special FaceTime chat during the check presentation.
“It was great having my good friend Paul out to Cane’s today to serve veterans and accept a $500,000 check on behalf of the Gary Sinise Foundation,” Graves stated. “Paul and I both share a passion for giving back and supporting our nation’s veterans, and I’m glad he introduced me to the Gary Sinise Foundation. It’s an honor to host these veterans in our restaurant and have the opportunity to donate $500,000 to such a great cause.”
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 13: Paul Skenes (CR) greets customers as he works Raising Cane’s “shift” supporting veterans through a check donation event to the Gary Sinise Foundation at Raising Cane’s on November 13, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for Raising Cane’s )
The partnership was inspired by Skenes, who, during the 2025 season, launched a personal mission to donate $100 to the Gary Sinise Foundation for every strikeout he recorded, which he totaled 216. As a former Air Force cadet and an avid advocate of our nation’s veterans and their families, Skenes is a longtime supporter of the organization.
Skenes shares Baton Rouge roots with Raising Cane’s, which opened its first Restaurant just across from LSU’s North Gates — the same place he made college baseball history. After leading LSU to the 2023 NCAA College World Series title, Skenes joined teammates and head coach Jay Johnson for a celebratory “shift” at The Mothership – Raising Cane’s first Restaurant– and later starred in a Cane’s NIL campaign.
His LSU ties run even deeper through longtime girlfriend Livvy Dunne, a fellow Tiger, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model, Forbes “30 Under 30” honoree, and NCAA gymnastics champion. Dunne, the most-followed college athlete in the country, partnered with Cane’s this spring for her first non-NIL and only QSR brand deal. Together, Skenes and Dunne have become part of the Cane’s family, forming a close friendship with Raising Cane’s owner and founder, Todd Graves, that goes far beyond campaigns.
Here is to a day of supporting our American heroes.
