SAN DIEGO Jack in the Box will highlight its charitable partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters on New Year’s Day with its first float in the annual Tournament of Roses Parade. The San Diego-based company, which owns or franchises some 2,100 namesake restaurants and about 450 Qdoba Mexican Grill units, will drive a disco-theme float called “Jack-O-licious” through the festivities in Pasadena, Calif.
“Participating in the parade is an amazing honor,” said Terri Funk Graham, chief marketing officer for Jack in the Box Inc. “It’s a wonderful way to showcase our decade-long partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters, which provides valuable mentoring relationships to children.”
For the first sponsored float in the company’s history, Jack in the Box partnered with Festival Artists Worldwide to design the rolling spectacle, which will feature a live band, flashing lights, a disco ball and giant platform shoes. Jack, the chain’s spokesman and mascot, will ride on the float with about 70 disco dancers and several representatives from Big Brothers Big Sisters, including Paul Castillo, the 2008 California and Orange County Big Brother of the Year. Jack in the Box employees, franchisees and executives also will ride in the float.
Big Brothers Big Sisters runs nearly 400 agencies across the country and serves more than 250,000 children.