# Viral Monkey Support Initiatives Perkins Restaurant & Bakery Donates to Support Punch the Monkey By Kalin Ned | Published 2026-03-11 | Social Good Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/punch-the-monkey References: [yahoo](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/perkins-donate-portion-proceeds-pi-214728842.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNhLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFGd37QSqa4cNJSvXSB60suLy3yG0BEbGTNaLBCpg6ibnjl34_hD2tYyuxc1LK0oCg-zY8kzh1nMdWjW3jUcrDIAICSPhvgEdgRAqLPuYl2CrSrjUPEe9LH1xe8nHKYs52fBAqZFRjkXDJv8XTWZPej0ayjJK03_FrGpO0XIiyUj)  [Perkins Restaurant & Bakery](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pieinspired-doughnuts) has announced a [charitable initiative](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/donationbased-menu-deals) tied to the annual Pi Day celebration on March 14, during which the company will donate a portion of the proceeds from each Banana Cream Pie sold to support [Punch the Monkey](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/motts-apple-mini-muffins), a Japanese macaque who gained widespread internet attention for his bond with a stuffed toy. The young monkey resides at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan and was hand-raised by caretakers after being rejected by his mother. He subsequently formed an attachment to an orangutan plush. By channeling funds toward Punch the Monkey's ongoing care, Perkins Restaurant & Bakery connects its longstanding tradition of freshly baked pies to a contemporary viral narrative centered on comfort and compassion. The Banana Cream Pie itself features hand-sliced bananas layered in a creamy filling within a flaky crust and topped with whipped cream and walnuts. Image Credit: Perkins Restaurant & Bakery ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.2/10 - Popularity: 34% | Activity: 28% | Freshness: 65% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Gen Alpha, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Social Good](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialgood) > [Charity](https://www.trendhunter.com/charity) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Cause-driven Menu Promotions:** Brands linking specific menu items to charitable causes create new revenue streams that integrate philanthropy with consumer purchase motivations, enabling measurable social impact tied to product performance. - **Viral-animal Story Marketing:** Emotional narratives around internet-famous animals fuel high-engagement campaigns that blend storytelling with merchandising and licensing opportunities across digital and physical channels. - **Pi Day and Novelty Holiday Tie-ins:** Retailers leveraging playful or niche calendar events can generate seasonal demand peaks and limited-edition product lines that drive foot traffic and social shares. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Quick-service Restaurants:** Chain operators can capitalize on cause-linked menu items and viral moments to differentiate offerings and deepen customer loyalty through experiential and social-facing promotions. - **Zoos and Wildlife Conservation Centers:** Public-facing animal stories provide fundraising and brand-partnership potential that shifts funding models from gate-driven revenue to media-driven sponsorships and digital donations. - **Food Retail and Bakeries:** Artisanal and mass-market bakers stand to expand product personalization and co-branded collaborations around viral themes, creating premium limited-run items with higher margins. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Anime-Collaborative Ice Creams](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/baskinrobbins-japan.md) - [Decadently Festive QSR Lineups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paris-baguette-unveils.md) - [Comforting Pudding Snack Cakes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/banana-puddin-creme-pies.md) - [Collectible Tea Mascot Keychains](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pg-tips-monkey-collectible.md) - [Savory Seasonal Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-2025-menu.md) - [Creative Pie-Inspired Doughnuts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pieinspired-doughnuts.md) - [Wish-Inspired Bake-Off Events](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bakeawish-challenge.md) - [European-Style Butter-Inspired Sweepstakes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/europeanstyle-butter.md) - [Festive Skillet Cookies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bjs-restaurants-skillet-cookie.md)