October 9, 2012 – Craig Hofman’s sister restaurant chains Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que and Hof’s Hut Restaurants together have raised $100,000 for two charities: Operation Homefront and Share Our Strength. The fundraiser, a part of the charitable initiative “Round It Up America,” allowed customers of both restaurants to round up their checks to the nearest dollar upon the close of credit card sales. The extra funds are sent to “Round It Up America,” which then distributes the funds to selected charities. “When it comes to helping those in need, every penny does really count,” Hofman, president of both restaurants, said in a statement. “We want to thank our charitable guests, who, by choosing to simply round up their checks, are making lives easier for America’s veterans and helping fight childhood hunger in America. The Round It Up America campaign is truly changing lives and we are honored to be a catalyst for that change.” For more information on the charities, visit www.operationhomefront.net and www.shareourstrength.org. Hof’s Hut Restaurant & Bakery (www.hofshut.com) was founded in 1951 and has six locations in California, including three in Long Beach. Lucille’s (www.lucillesbbq.com) first opened in 1999 and has 16 locations in California, Arizona and Nevada. There are two Lucille’s in Long Beach. (Photograph by the Business Journal’s Thomas McConville)