SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–PIRQ, a new 100% smart phone deal app and service, and the United Way of King County announced today its partnership in an innovative program called “Deals for Meals” to help end hunger in the Greater Seattle area. Inspired by a personal challenge from Bill Gates to Pirq CEO, James Sun, Deals for Meals empowers savvy consumers to save on dining out and simultaneously give back to the community at no additional cost. Each time a customer uses the Pirq app at one of 130+ dining locations throughout Puget Sound, Pirq donates 10% of its revenue to United Way.
“United Way has always been about caring people coming together to help people in need and to solve our community’s toughest challenges”
“Bill asked all tech entrepreneurs at a recent event organized by United Way to create a culture of giving back to the community. He called it creative capitalism,” said Sun. “I asked him how startups could do that when we’re not Microsoft. We’re so tight on cash. He told me to build a way to give back into the actual business model. That planted the seed for me to create Deals for Meals.”
The Pirq app, available for iPhone now and Android in September, offers 20-50% off discounts at dining establishments in real-time, based on location. Pirq was created as the antidote to the daily deal maze and craze, providing deals for consumers while helping businesses bring people in the door.
To promote Deals for Meals, Pirq partner Garlic Jim’s Famous Gourmet Pizza will take giving one step further, offering free pizzas through the Pirq app for a two-week period, beginning the first week of September. “It’s a win no matter how we look at it,” said Ross Marzolf, Garlic Jim’s Director of Public Relations & Marketing. “We reward consumers with free pizza for using Pirq, which gives money to United Way to provide food for those in our community who cannot afford the luxury of dining out.”
Through Deals for Meals, Pirq supports United Way in its ongoing efforts to feed local communities and invest in long-term solutions. As the economy has driven higher numbers of people to seek assistance, Seattle-area food banks are feeling the pinch. Applications for the Basic Food Program have steadily increased: an average of 10,000 King County residents apply for food stamps each month and nearly 82,000 are currently receiving support.
“United Way has always been about caring people coming together to help people in need and to solve our community’s toughest challenges,” said United Way of King County President and CEO Jon Fine. “As the needs continue to grow, it’s more important than ever to come up with unique ways for people and businesses to connect with their community and give back. Deals for Meals is an easy way for consumers to fight hunger as they go about their daily lives and a shining example of how even young companies can incorporate philanthropy into their culture.”
About Pirq
Pirq is the antidote to the “one-time daily deal” maze and craze, solving problems for both businesses and consumers in a deal app and service delivered via smart phones. Pirq brings together the resources of two experienced and respected companies: Passport Unlimited, a 25-year veteran of providing upscale dining and lifestyle perks to more than 800,000 Fortune 500 professionals, and GeoPage, a location-based platform company, which built a proprietary, interactive web and mobile application platform. Website: www.pirq.com | Twitter: @Pirqcom | Facebook: www.facebook.com/pirqcom
About United Way
United Way of King County envisions a community in which every child is ready to succeed in school, every person has a home, and every individual can pursue productive and satisfying lives. The organization is committed to creating lasting change, from ending homelessness to giving every child a healthy chance at school and in life. United Way of King County is uniquely positioned to leverage its health, human services and public advocacy expertise, a powerful base of donors and volunteers, and outcome-based funding efforts to help identify and solve chronic community-wide issues in this region.
