Cross & Crescent

On December 3, 2008, at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, a young entrepreneur will make his reality TV premiere. The one hour episode isn’t about fame for Todd Graves (Georgia 1994) but about the ability to help the community that has helped him become successful in his young career. The show, “Secret Millionaire,” takes successful individuals and puts them in an impoverished area, working for minimum wage.

“[The producers said] you’re going to be volunteering, working with great people, and telling peoples’ stories,” says Grave. “Hopefully people will be inspired to give some more money or volunteer more time.”

The millionaires work with citizens within the community and determine if individuals should receive gifts of at least $100,000. In Graves’ case, the gift goes well beyond the minimum.

Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers

While in college Graves worked in restaurant and knew his future was in the restaurant business. For an MBA class, he and his co-founder wrote a business plan for a chicken finger specific restaurant. It received the lowest grade in the class; citing it was a great plan but the concept of chicken fingers wouldn’t work.

Investors seemed to agree with the professor, as Graves was unable to get a loan to start his chicken finger meal-only concept.

“I had to go out and work in Alaska in commercial fishing just to raise money; I worked in boiler maker and refineries just to raise money,” says Graves.

He finally was able to realize his dream by opening his first restaurant, Raising Cane’s, named after his dog, near the Louisiana State University Campus. The store has blossomed, and now the the restaurant chain includes 80 locations in 13 states.

“We have been so fortunate and successful; my dream was for one restaurant and my community supported me in my dream, so we gave back to the community. We’ve always given back 27 percent in every community we are in,” says Graves. “They support you so you support them for educational programs, feeding the hungry, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, great new future leaders, business organization, and young professional groups. Those are leaders and supporting them to make their communities better it important.”

Secret Millionaire

The producers of “Secret Millionaire” didn’t tell Graves and his wife where they were going to be sent to shoot the show. It was near their home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in an area devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The producers told the community that they were going to be filming a documentary through the eyes a couple that was between jobs and kept enough work to make ends meet.

“People really wanted to tell the story of their community,” says Graves. “We worked in a restaurant, which was great. I was a cashier and it was great to get back in the kitchen.”

The six member crew shot onsite for seven days as Graves met members of the community and participated in volunteer work.

“We really met angels walking the earth,” says Graves. “We narrowed it down to three people and groups that were doing the most for their community. So that money would be spread out for the community among teachers, coaches, church leaders, and councilors. They were incredible people we met and they did great things with the money we gave them.”

Lambda Chi Support

Every chapter does philanthropies to raise money for student and communities events, and Georgia was no different.

“You learn good values and you have a good group,” says Graves. “And that is where it started, learning as a group and with support from nationals on how to make it effective. It gave me that exposure at a young age for that.”

Graves has plenty of support from his Georgia brothers. He often receives emails about how proud his brothers are of his business and philanthropic adventure.

“Those friendships and bonds are made,” says Graves. “They’re real proud of the charitable side, which makes me real happy. Just shows you the group that I was part.”