A few decades ago, four young children, all born and raised in the Valley, became friends. During childhood, the boys hung out together, playing sports and riding bikes. As they got older, they started working in restaurants together.
Those kids—brothers Jared and Ryan Field, plus Tim Pacatte and Brian Terpay—probably never envisioned themselves at the helm of a successful restaurant franchise. But as adults, they spotted an opportunity. “Over Easy was created by chef Aaron May, one of our good friends,” Terpay says. “We knew right away we loved the concept, and a few years later, we were able to purchase the brand and start growing it ourselves. Now we have 19 locations in Arizona and are ready to open locations out of state.”
- “We are lucky to be in this business and supported by both our tremendous employee team and our neighborhood communities. Without all of them, none of this would exist.”BRIAN TERPAYCo-Founder, Over Easy
What began as a group of lifelong friends working together turned into a breakfast brand with a loyal following—the kind of place that feels like a neighborhood spot. As their business has grown, they’ve made it a priority to give back to the community, and they partner with Phoenix Children’s. That partnership, in turn, creates goodwill for their brand.
“Giving back to the community that has supported us for so many years has always been important to us,” Terpay says. We are lucky to be in this business and supported by both our tremendous employee team and our neighborhood communities. Without all of them, none of this would exist. Phoenix Children’s allows us to complete the circle and support them.”
Over Easy has pledged $500,000 to support Phoenix Children’s Child Life program, a gift recognized with a naming in the Gathering Cafe and Maker’s Space in the Child Life Zone—a fun, joyful place where kids can take a break from medical tests and procedures to play, create and connect. For a restaurant built on bright colors, upbeat energy and sunny-side-up optimism, supporting a playful creative space for kids felt like a natural fit. Phoenix Children’s chose the theme Rays of Hope for their naming dedication celebration, a cheerful nod to Over Easy’s brand, Rays for Days.
Beyond The Zone
Over Easy’s partnership with Phoenix Children’s extends past their donation to the Child Life program, with events and activities that support patients and their families throughout the year:
- With the Kids Helping Kids campaign, a portion of the proceeds from every kids menu item sold year-round at Over Easy benefits Phoenix Children’s.
- Over Easy hosts cooking classes and birthday parties in The Zone for patients and provides meals to patients’ families at their restaurants.
- At the annual Dollars for a Dozen fundraiser in April, customers can donate a dollar (or more) at Over Easy locations throughout the state, and Over Easy matches each donation dollar for dollar. For every dollar raised, Hickman’s Family Farms and Shamrock Farms donate a dozen eggs to United Food Bank.
- Over Easy’s management staff and employees volunteer at many Phoenix Children’s events.
The partnership has taken on a rhythm throughout the year—moments of joy, hands on activities and community giving that stretch far beyond breakfast service. “We’ve loved every minute of our partnership with Phoenix Children’s. It’s been meaningful, it’s been fun and the Foundation team has been amazing every step of the way, bringing the entire partnership to life,” Jared Field says. “This is exactly what we dreamed of when we started Over Easy: doing something we love, in the place we love, with people we love and giving back in a meaningful way.”
Connecting Kids With Kids
“There are many ways to give back to the community, but when we met with Phoenix Children’s, we knew that they instantly aligned with our brand mission of ‘Sparking Brighter Days,’” Terpay says.
He pointed to the Kids Helping Kids campaign as a program that’s making a difference, both in raising money and raising awareness among children. “It’s a way for kids to actually get involved and feel like they are making a difference, which is huge! Every time they come in for breakfast, they know that they are helping a kid in need at Phoenix Children’s,” he says. “It’s been really cool to see how many children want to support and help out.”
For the team at Over Easy, it’s a full-circle moment: kids enjoying breakfast helping kids facing some of the toughest moments of their lives.
To learn how your business can get involved with Phoenix Children's, contact us at 602-933-4483 or partnerships@phoenixchildrens.com.
