Raising Cane’s is once again lifting local communities around America.
This time the beloved restaurant empire of chicken fingers is taking a dip into much needed marine conservation efforts. Raising Cane’s owner and founder Todd Graves on August 14 bestowed a $500,000 donation to CCA Louisiana.
Photo credit: Raising Cane’s
The funds will be used to build five artificial reefs around southern coastlines in America. The prime example of giving by Graves and his company illuminates empowering and unstoppable philanthropic efforts that are truly remarkable. In a banner year for Raising Cane’s, Graves took time to focus on a project that is meaningful to his home state of Louisiana. Equally, funds will aid a planet in need of mankind creating ways to enhance the state of the environment as much as respecting how conversation can support the livelihood of residents.
“This is the American dream,” Graves said during the kickoff installation of Raising Cane’s Hotel Sid reef in Grand Isle. “It’s not about what you make, it’s about what you give.”
Photo credit: Raising Cane’s
A dynamic tapestry of electric philanthropy was witnessed by a crowd that gathered on a sunny day on the water. Joining at the celebration were dignitaries from CCA Louisiana, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Danos, and Natrx as well as State Representative Dr. Joseph Orgeron, Grand Isle Mayor David Camardelle, CCA chairman Charlie Caplinger, David Cresson, executive director of CCA Louisiana, and Rad Trascher, executive vice president of CCA Louisiana.
Photo credit: Raising Cane’s
“Restoring Hotel Sid was made possible by Todd and Raising Cane’s,” said Cresson. “Todd is a great friend and incredible conservationist and outdoorsman and having him here with us today is an honor. I have no words to describe how thankful we are not only for Raising Cane’s Hotel Sid but Todd’s commitment to sponsoring four additional reefs. That’s huge.”
Photo credit: Raising Cane’s
The old platform served as a living reef for many years that attracted anglers from all areas as it was known to hold plenty of speckled trout until it was decommissioned and removed in 2023 due to low production. A void in that area of the bay has existed ever since, making the new reef a welcomed gift for local businesses and fishermen alike.
From the marina Graves enthusiastically expanded on the partnership and committed to sponsoring four more additional reefs for CCA Louisiana in the coming years before receiving the Grand Isle’s Medal of Honor.
“I’m proud to award him Grand Isle’s Medal of Honor for his avid conservationism and dedication to restoring our waters and reefs,” Mayor Camardelle told the audience.
Photo credit: Raising Cane’s
After the ceremony, a tour of the installation took place that put on full display how the Raising Cane’s contribution is re-establishing the much-needed reef that replaces an oil and gas platform called Hotel Sid, which was located just east of the Barataria Waterway. Grand Isle in the Gulf of Mexico is located about two hours south of New Orleans. It is here that there is access to hundreds of productive waterways and more than 280 fish species. It is now home to the 52nd reef of the program.
Raising Cane’s Hotel Sid is made of “Cajun Coral,” which is a highly flexible type of 3D printed concrete by Natrx that’s safer and faster to install than traditional methods, promotes habitat growth and ecological benefits, and gets stronger over time. The reef will consist of four areas and utilize more than 500 coral modules – each weighing more than 400 pounds – to create more than 10,000 square feet of living reef, in turn providing a home for all marine species up and down the food chain.
“We have to take care of our planet,” Graves elaborated with compassion.
Seeing the installation taking place added a deeper level of understanding of how much the Raising Cane’s donation will directly impact the world. With a mission to protect and preserve marine resources for the enjoyment of future generations, CCA Louisiana has built and installed reefs over the past 20 years. Due to several factors including coastal erosion, hurricanes, and the removal of old oil and gas platforms, Louisiana is losing an alarming amount of habitat every day. Artificial reefs play an important role in replenishing and conserving the state’s marine life and ecosystem by also creating habitats for healthy fisheries, which impact the entirety of coastal towns like Grand Isle that depend on thriving fisheries to survive. As one of Louisiana’s main marine conservation organizations, CCA’s efforts span artificial reefs, floating islands, tagging, and more.
For us, the work of Raising Cane’s is more than just amazing food. It is one of the most compelling companies in America because of what they do to give back to communities across the country. You can get more information on Raising Cane’s by visiting HERE.
