FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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What is the Shining Star Foundation?

The Shining Star Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supporting employees of CKE Restaurants and Participating Franchisees in time of need.  The purpose of the Foundation is to provide a way for our team embers to support one another by contributing to an employee assistance fund used to provide financial support to other team members facing personal challenges, unforeseen hardships, difficult situations or sudden emergencies.

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How can an employee donate/contribute to the Foundation?

Team members are welcome to sign-up for recurring contributions through payroll deduction or their employer or a one-time donation for any amount. Information on how to set-up a payroll deduction or make a donation is available via the GIVE NOW button above. Any amount is appreciated and every dollar helps. 

 

Contributions made to the Shining Star Foundation are tax-deductible in the United States. 

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Who is eligible to apply for a grant from the Shining Star Foundation?

Any employee in the United States with at least six (6) consecutive months of service at CKE Restaurants (corporate locations) or a Participating Franchisee, which includes the following franchisees: StarCorp LLC, Superior Star LLC and Phase Three Brands.  Eligible employees can apply for assistance through the Foundation once every three years.  

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How does the application process work?

Applications can be submitted directly online via the APPLY NOW button above.

 

Applications should be completed in their entirety,  signed by the applicant, include all required documentation (described below).

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Each application undergoes a review by the Foundation Board to ensure a qualifying emergency or hardship exists and that all required documentation has been received.  The applicant will be notified via email of the grant status. 

 

What is considered a qualifying emergency or financial hardship?

A qualifying emergency or financial hardship refers to a situation where an employee experiences financial difficulty due to unforeseen or unexpected circumstances outside of their control. 

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Examples include:

• Natural disaster such as a floods, fires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes. 

• Damage to housing or other unusual expenses not covered by insurance.

• Serious illnesses, injuries, or loss of the employee, employee's spouse, child or legal dependents (see FAQ on Legal Dependents below). 

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Examples of situation that are NOT included:

• Vehicle maintenance, and auto accident repairs.

• Past due rent and mortgages, utilities, or anything considered personal living expenses past due.

• Anything covered by insurance. 

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What type of documentation is required with an Application?

Documentation to clearly support the reason for and amount of the request is required. If the required documentation is not submitted with the request, it will cause delay. Examples for various types of emergencies or hardships include:

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• Medical: EOBs, doctor’s office billing statements, surgery centers, personal receipts indicating what was paid, what was covered/not covered by insurance. 

• Home Repairs: Invoices for completed work with the current amount owed to the service provider. If the work was not completed, final estimates must be submitted on company letterhead with appropriate date/address for that specific job. 

• Death: Funeral home invoice for services with the current amount owed. The invoices must include the name of the party responsible for payment and the name of the deceased. 

• Personal reimbursement: Although we do not reimburse for lost wages, there are considerations for reimbursing personal expenses based on an eligible event that may have occurred (primarily medical) that would have prevented the employee from working. These are considered on a case by case basis and the receipts must include detailed costs and tie back to the actual qualifying event.

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Who is a Legal Dependent?

For purposes of a grant, a Legal Dependent is a spouse or qualifying child (one who is living with you, relies on you for your financial support). This definition includes step children and adopted children but does not typically include parents. 

 

How much are the grants?

The amount of each grant varies and is dependent upon the specific situation and the out-of-pocket costs for the employee. The current maximum grant amount is $2,000.  Grants are non-taxable in the United States.

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How are the grants paid?

The grants are paid directly to the party/business who issued the invoice or is owed for service. For example, if the grant request is for an unpaid hospital bill, the grant payment will be issued directly to the hospital. 

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Are there other (non-financial) employee assistance resources available?

Yes! If you are a CKE Restaurants employee, please click the EAP (Employee Assistance Program) link above for more information on other resources that may be available to an employee in an emergency or financial hardship, including tips and guidance on weathering short-term financial hardship, low income home energy assistance, tips on applying for disaster assistance and information on financial resources that may be available for uninsured individuals.