The Cheesecake Factory Oscar & Evelyn Overton
Charitable Foundation

The Cheesecake Factory has inherited a tradition of excellence from our founders, Oscar and Evelyn Overton, whose values have shaped our culture and continue to define the character of our company today.  The Cheesecake Factory Oscar & Evelyn Overton Charitable Foundation exists to fulfill its mission through enhancing the wellbeing of its surrounding communities.  This non-profit organization was created not only as a means to raise funds for worthy causes, but also as a way to unite our caring and conscientious staff members in charitable causes and disaster relief efforts.

Since 2002, on Thanksgiving Day staff members of The Cheesecake Factory, Grand Lux Cafe and RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen restaurants join forces for the annual Thanksgiving Day Feast for The Salvation Army.  Volunteer staff members along with their friends and families, give back to their local communities by donating their time and energy in preparing and serving a fine-dining Cheesecake Factory experience to those less fortunate at community centers across the country.  In addition to providing exceptional food and service to our honored Salvation Army guests, the dinner also allows our staff members and volunteers to get involved and help those in need.   

Each June the Foundation hosts its annual Charity Golf Tournament and Auction raising money for the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Duarte, California.  City of Hope is an innovative biomedical research, treatment, and educational institution dedicated to the prevention and cure of cancer and other life-threatening diseases.  The Foundation has donated more than $2.1 million to City of Hope as a result of this tournament.

The Foundation has sponsored staff member teams for fundraising or community service projects since 2008 through a program called The Cheesecake Factory ‘Give Back.’  The purpose of this program is to inspire staff to get involved with the non-profit organizations they care about.  The Foundation provides team shirts and makes a financial donation to the non-profit organization based on the number of staff members on the team.  The more ‘Give Back’ staff members, the larger the donation!

September is Hunger Action Month.  Since 2008 we’ve been taking action by conducting a nationwide staff member Peanut Butter Drive. Just in time for back-to-school lunches for hungry kids, we stock the shelves of local Feeding America® food banks.  Staff members and managers collect peanut butter and $1 contributions for the cause.  Last year more than 170,000 pounds of peanut butter and $500,000 was donated to local Feeding America food banks across the country.

The Foundation supports the South Los Angeles Youth & Community Center, and has donated $40,000 each year since 2006.  The Center is located a high-crime area of Los Angeles.  Before the Foundation stepped in to help, the Center did not have the funding to remain open on Saturdays.  The Foundation’s contributions have given the children in this neighborhood a safe place to play every Saturday.

The Cheesecake Factory Foundation and our dedicated donors and volunteers are making a difference in our communities and the lives of many.