America’s leading buffet aims to surpass $20 million to help send military children to free summer camp | RALEIGH, N.C. (March 2, 2026) — As part of its ongoing commitment to the military community, Golden Corral will launch its 15th annual Camp Corral fundraising campaign on March 2, with this year’s goal of raising $1 million by May 10, 2026 to send thousands of military children to camp at no cost to their families.
Camp Corral is a national nonprofit organization that provides one-week summer camp programs for children ages 8 to 15 of wounded, ill, and fallen service members. Through structured enrichment activities and peer connection, Camp Corral creates a safe space designed to build resilience, independence, and community. Golden Corral is a founding partner of the nonprofit.
Since its founding in 2011, the organization has served more than 38,000 military children nationwide. To date, Golden Corral and its guests have raised more than $19 million in support of the program. In 2025 alone, in partnership with DAV (Disabled American Veterans), more than $1.9 million was raised — covering the cost of camp for over 1,500 military children.
This summer, Camp Corral will host 23 camp sessions across 19 states with life-changing experiences developed to allow military kids to be kids, away from the stresses and unique challenges of military life. Nearly 78% of parents report lasting, positive changes in their children following participation, including stronger coping skills and increased self-confidence.
“Every child deserves the chance to simply be a kid, especially those who carry the weight of a parent’s service and sacrifice,” said Phil Kowalczyk, CEO of Camp Corral. “With Golden Corral’s continued collaboration and generosity of guests across the country, we are able to create meaningful peer connections and show military families that their sacrifices are recognized and valued.”
All Golden Corral restaurants are participating in the fundraiser, and guests can support Camp Corral in the restaurants or online at CampCorral.org. In their local restaurants, guests can purchase Donation Stars for $1, $5, or $10, round up their check at the register, or scan a QR code to contribute. Select locations will also offer T-shirts and baked goods to raise money for Camp Corral.
The restaurant’s dedication to the armed forces community spans more than 25 years. Since 2001, the brand has hosted its annual Military Appreciation Night, providing more than 6.8 million complimentary “Thank You” meals to current service members, veterans, and retirees, and raising more than $21 million for local DAV chapters. In 2025, Golden Corral also launched a partnership with Project Healing Waters to support the physical and emotional rehabilitation of veterans and active-duty service members through fly fishing programs.
“Honoring our military heroes and the families who stand beside them is deeply rooted in who we are as a brand,” said Lance Trenary, President and CEO of Golden Corral. “Through Camp Corral and the generosity of our guests, franchisees, and Golden Corral Corporation, we are honored to create meaningful moments and life-changing weeks for even more deserving children in 2026.”
For more information about attending camp or donating directly, visit CampCorral.org. To find a nearby Golden Corral, visit GoldenCorral.com/locations or order online at GoldenCorral.com/order-online.
About Golden Corral
Founded in 1973 and based in Raleigh, N.C., Golden Corral is the nation’s largest grill-buffet restaurant chain. Golden Corral strives to make pleasurable dining affordable for all families. Golden Corral restaurants are 99% locally owned and operated by independent franchisees. While its commitment begins each day with preparing delicious food, Golden Corral also believes in providing outstanding hospitality and giving back. Service to others is a hallmark of the Golden Corral brand. In recent years, Golden Corral has been recognized among the nation’s top 50 “Most Loved Brands” by Yelp (2023), honored by Newsweek for “America’s Best Customer Service 2024,” named Newsweek’s #1 “Best Buffet Chain in America” for 2025, and selected for USA Today’s 2026 list of “America’s Best Customer Service.” The brand has also earned multiple workplace awards in recognition of its deep-rooted culture. Golden Corral restaurants nationwide have long been strong supporters of the U.S. Military and DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and have more recently partnered with Project Healing Waters, an organization that helps active military service personnel and Veterans in need through a dedicated, developed curriculum of fly fishing, fly casting, fly tying, and fly rod building. Golden Corral is also the founding sponsor of Camp Corral, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation, which provides free, one-of-a-kind summer camp experiences for children of wounded, injured, ill, or fallen service members. For more information, visit GoldenCorral.com and follow Golden Corral on Facebook, Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter.
About Camp Corral
The mission of Camp Corral is to transform the lives of children of wounded, ill, and fallen military heroes by providing camp, advocacy, and enrichment programs. Since 2011, Camp Corral has served more than 33,000 military children from every state in the nation. Camp Corral offers recreational programs designed specifically to empower America’s military children to make connections, build coping skills, and increase self-confidence. As a national leader and provider of educational resources, research, and advocacy related to the challenges faced by children of wounded, ill, and fallen military service members, many of whom provide caregiving duties within the wounded warrior family unit, Camp Corral helps build life skills to empower strong, resilient, and independent individuals.