Hogs for the Cause, the 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting families of children battling cancer through community engagement and barbecue culture, is launching the Trail of Barbecue, a national partnership uniting barbecue restaurants across the country behind a single mission: providing care, comfort, and critical resources for families facing pediatric cancer.

As the Trail of Barbecue launches nationwide, Hogs for the Cause is marking the moment with a transformational milestone: a $2 million investment in Children’s Health in Texas — the largest gift in the organization’s history in the state. This commitment exemplifies the scale of impact the Trail aims to achieve nationwide as more restaurants join the movement.

Restaurants from coast to coast are invited to join the Trail by rounding up at the register, hosting fundraising events, or donating proceeds from a menu item. The initiative is designed to meet restaurants where they are, offering flexible, community‑driven ways to make a meaningful impact.

Since 2009, Hogs has grown from helping a single family to becoming one of the nation’s most impactful organizations, distributing over $14 million to hospital programs and charities nationwide and more than $3 million in direct grants to over 2,300 families. Its flagship barbecue and music festival, the eponymous Hogs for the Cause, attracts over 30,000 attendees, 90 barbecue teams, and 20-plus bands each year, serving as a catalyst for direct support to families in need.

“While many know us for our New Orleans festival, we are a charity that happens to have a festival, not the other way around,” said Becker Hall, co-founder and CEO of Hogs for the Cause. “A pediatric cancer diagnosis is both a medical and financial crisis. Launching the Trail of Barbecue on a national scale allows us to deepen our impact in communities across the country. Our investment in Children’s Health is a powerful example of what this movement can make possible — and it’s only the beginning.”

As part of the Trail’s national expansion, Hogs is marking its largest Texas investment to date—a $2 million capital commitment to Children’s Health supporting the expansion of Children’s Medical Center Plano. Collin County, where the Plano campus is located, is one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation, and the region’s rapid population growth has driven increasing demand for specialized pediatric care.

Hogs’ investment will expand clinical capabilities in key program areas, including cancer and blood disorders, while increasing both inpatient and outpatient capacity to better serve North Texas families. The Pauline Allen Gill Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s Medical Center Plano and Children’s Medical Center Dallas is the largest program of its kind in North Texas and now treats more than 1,000 new patients each year. Continued growth across both campuses underscores the urgent need for expanded space and resources to support specialized pediatric oncology care.

“This investment from Hogs for the Cause is transformational for children and families fighting pediatric cancer across North Texas and beyond,” said Brent Christopher, president of Children’s Medical Center Foundation. “Their gift will expand access to highly specialized pediatric cancer care at our Plano campus while strengthening the family-centered spaces that are critical to healing. As Children’s Health grows alongside our community, we are grateful for organizations that help ensure more children can receive world-class care close to home.”

Hogs’ impact spans the country, and the Trail of Barbecue is rallying restaurants in every region—from small-town smokehouses to nationally recognized destinations—to help lead the charge. While Texas remains home to one of the world’s most celebrated barbecue cultures, the Trail is rapidly expanding nationwide.

Participating restaurants help fund hospital programs, family housing, and direct grants for families in need. Restaurants can join in ways that fit their business, including through existing industry tools like Toast’s Round Up for Charity feature, hosting fundraising events, or donating a portion of sales from a menu item.

“Barbecue is built on community,” said Lane Milne, co-proprietor of Goldee’s in Fort Worth. “If we can use what we do every day to support families who need it most, that’s something we’re proud to be a part of.”

The Trail of Barbecue continues to grow, with participating restaurants in Texas and across the country—including Home Team BBQ, Fox Bros, Swig & Swine, Goldee’s BBQ, Pinkerton’s Barbecue, and many others. Hogs for the Cause is actively inviting additional restaurants nationwide to join the initiative and expand the Trail’s reach.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the restaurants that have already committed to our mission and hope to eventually have every barbecue restaurant in the country supporting this cause,” added Hall.

The barbecue community is invited to follow the trail, eat with purpose, and help Hogs keep families close and kids cared for. For more information on participating restaurants nationwide or to join the Trail of Barbecue, visit trailofbarbecue.org.