UPDATE JAN. 31: Panda Express make good on its promise Tuesday to donate to Serving Our Kids Foundation.
Panda Express presented a $5,000 check and served orange chicken to some children.
"When you get a group like The Killers and Panda Express behind you, those are two quality names," said Dale Darcas, executive director of Serving Our Kids Foundation. "And for us to be a small charity like we are, it's just amazing that we're getting the exposure that we're getting right now."
The Killers were unable to be at the presentation Tuesday because the band is on tour in Europe. But Serving Our Kids Foundation hopes to work out a time when the band can help pack food and meet the volunteers.
ORIGINAL STORY
LAS VEGAS (KTNV) -- A lyric from one of the biggest bands to come out of Las Vegas is the reason a valley charity is landing a huge donation.
The restaurant Panda Express will be giving to the Serving Our Kids Foundation after a playful, teasing Twitter war with the Killers.
The band tweeted a picture of a fortune from a Panda fortune cookie that said "Smile like you mean it." The line is the title of a Killers song from their debut album, Hot Fuss.
The band said in the tweet they'd let Panda off the hook for using the lyric in exchange for orange chicken for life.
When the restaurant responded favorably, the Killers challenged Panda to instead feed hungry people.
The Killers chose Serving Our Kids as the receiving organization, much to the delight of its executive director, Dale Darcas.
"I heard of [The Killers] but I didn't know exactly who they were or how big they were," Darcas said.
Darcas says Serving Our Kids gives food to more than 2,000 needy children a week. He doesn't know yet what Panda's contribution will be, but he says the word-of-mouth exposure is already making a difference.
"We're just in awe of what's happened today," Darcas said.
Serving Our Kids is trying to work out a time with The Killers when the band can help pack food and meet the volunteers.
