The family behind three Wings Etc. Grill & Pub restaurants in southeastern Ohio has quietly donated to local schools, charities and community groups — and they say they’re just getting started.
By Molly Link
For Wings Etc. Grill & Pub
Fort Wayne, Ind. — You might think that the most notable thing about Wings Etc. Grill & Pub is award-winning wings.
But the restaurants in Marietta, Belpre and Caldwell, Ohio, owned by Chad and Missy Huck and Kyle and Kristen Huck, stand out for another reason: the franchisees’ deep generosity to their communities, amounting to more than $140,000 since they opened their first location in August 2015.
That significant figure represents a whole lot of $5 Wings Nut Buck coupons and Dine-To-Donate meals and reflects the vast number of people touched by the Hucks’ commitment to giving back.
“We never say no,” Kyle Huck says.
It’s evident in the wide-ranging causes they’ve supported. The Hucks have donated Wing Nut Bucks for the BrAva Mom Prom in Marietta, raising money for children’s cancer research, and the Strecker Cancer Center in Belpre for holiday gift bags for cancer patients. The Lions Club schedules a Dine-To-Donate event year after year. They’ve given to youth groups, 4-H groups, charitable golf outings, school teams, Little League teams, travel teams and benefits for people who have been diagnosed with a disease or who’ve been in an accident — one such event raised $923.
With deep roots in the region — the Hucks and their children have all grown up and attended school in the area — their philanthropy is heartfelt. It’s also smart business.
“We’re all very active in the communities, and we make ourselves pretty accessible,” Kyle says — for better or worse. “We hear everything, both positive and negative.”
Charitable events give them an additional chance to shine. “I’ve had people actually reach out and say, I haven’t been to Wings Etc. lately. But I went for Dine-To-Donate, and it was fantastic,” he says. “Dine-To-Donate often brings communities of people together, and it’s an amazing thing to see. We also love to see individuals coming together to raise money for wonderful causes, and we are so thankful to be a part of that.”
Initiatives like these also bring in regular customers more often and cultivate new patrons. At a time when consumers are looking for value that feels worth it, community involvement has become a powerful way for restaurants to build loyalty and lasting relationships. It’s a reciprocity that allows local businesses and the community to thrive.
The Hucks have been particularly avid supporters of schools. They launched Feed the Teams, through which they provide a meal for one sports team each year from each area high school — often the football teams, which can add up when coaches and cheerleaders are included. Other sports teams receive 15 percent off of their bill.
The Hucks’ expanding reach in southeastern Ohio has mirrored their families’ activities. Chad and Missy’s son is now a student at Marietta College and plays football there; last fall the restaurant visited the stadium and fed approximately 175 football players and coaches.
“When parents come to town to visit their kids, Wings Etc. is one of the first places they choose,” Kyle says. “Providing a meal to the team at the beginning of the season allows us to make connections with the players, coaches and families. It’s a win-win for sure.”
Sometimes the Hucks’ largesse isn’t a formal program at all. Sometimes it’s as casual as a conversation among people who care about the community and those who live in it. Kyle teaches at Caldwell High School, so when the basketball team was heading into tournaments, their coach asked about bringing the team in to watch the draw; Kyle set aside a section for the group.
The restaurants in Marietta, Belpre and Caldwell also take part in charitable events for The Wings Etc. Foundation, which supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. They host the annual Day of Giving and offer guests an opportunity to round up their tabs. Kyle serves on the foundation’s planning committee.
Colton LeTourneau, the senior director of marketing for Wings Etc., says that the Hucks’ philosophy has made them one of the system’s most successful franchisees.
“Franchisees who stay as involved and connected as the Hucks are tend to build strong, successful businesses,” LeTourneau says. “They’re engaged in every aspect of their restaurants, and I think that’s what makes them not only great franchisees, but great people as well. They’ve built real relationships in the communities they serve, and that’s such an important key to running a successful restaurant.”
Part of the Wings Etc. brand mission is giving back. The Hucks view their community giving as one very key way to accomplish that task.
“Participation matters,” Kyle says. “Being a part of the community is important to any business. Trust and respect are earned.”
The Hucks’ Wings Etc. Grill & Pub Franchise Locations
- 101 Crooked Run Lane in Marietta, opened August 2015
- 44360 West Hills Lane in Caldwell, opened January 2018
- 1804 Washington Blvd in Belpre, opened March 2023
Dine to Donate Details
Customers can apply to host a Dine-To-Donate fundraising event at www.wingsetc.com/dine-to-donate or stop by the restaurant to talk with a manager.
Wings Etc. supplies the organization with a PDF of the Dine-To-Donate fundraising flier as well as an image for social media that the group can distribute.
Guests bring the flier or a copy on a mobile device for both dine-in and carryout orders on the date of the fundraiser. Wings Etc. Grill & Pub then donates 15 percent of all pre-taxed food and soft drink sales from invited guests to the organization.
By the Numbers
- Average number of Dine-To-Donate events per year among the three restaurants: 20-25
- Charitable giving as of April 2026 by the Marietta and Belpre locations: $75,840.05
- Charitable giving as of April 2026 by the Caldwell location: $65,351.86
- Total as of April 2026: $141,191.91
About Wings Etc.
Founded in 1994 by Jim Weaver in northern Indiana, Wings Etc. is a brand specializing in over-the-top flavor and over-the-top value. The brand includes two concepts: the award-winning, full-service Wings Etc. Grill & Pub with sports programming and a full bar, and the nimble, quick-service restaurant Wings Etc. 2Go. Guests of both restaurants can choose and customize their Big Flavor from more than 20 delicious sauces, rubs and dips. See wingsetc.com.
With more than 80 corporate and franchise locations, Wings Etc. has enjoyed three decades of successful franchise growth. Wings Etc. has been listed among Entrepreneur magazine’s “Top 500 Franchises” and was included in the magazine’s “Top Chicken Franchises” in 2024. It has been named one of Franchise Business Review’s “Top Food Franchises” and a “Top 200 Franchise.” Wings Etc. has been included in Franchise Gator’s “Top 100 Franchises” and its “Fastest Growing Franchises”; it was among the “Top Emerging Franchises” in 2023. Wings Etc. is one of the Top 400 in Franchise Times; it has also been awarded “Best Wings” in multiple markets. See www.wingsetcfranchise.com.
The Wings Etc. Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, is dedicated to improving children’s lives. Learn more at wingsetcfoundation.com.
©2026 Wings Etc., Inc. Franchises independently owned and operated.
