A Roanoke nonprofit that wants to provide tuition-free Christian education to children is banking on the founder of a well-known national fast food chain to help it raise funds.

Truett Cathy, the founder and chairman of Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, will speak Tuesday at a benefit banquet for Renewanation at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center.

Chick-fil-A is known for operating its business on biblical principals. Its restaurants are closed on Sundays, and some eateries collect customers' prayer requests.

The chain has also been successful in the business world. Chick-fil-A was No. 2 in sales for fast-food chicken chains nationally in 2008, behind Kentucky Fried Chicken, according to Technomic, a food industry research firm. Chick-fil-A's drive-through service recently ranked No. 1 in a survey by QSR magazine.

In Roanoke, Cathy will speak about the Christian world view in the marketplace and the importance of teaching it to children.

"He puts principles before profits," Melvin Adams, president and CEO of Renewanation, said of Cathy.

Headquartered at Parkway House of Prayer in Northeast Roanoke, Renewanation was started a little more than a year ago with a long-term goal of creating an affordable school system that teaches children a Christian world view. The organization is raising money for these schools to be financially viable, with donations funneled into endowments.

Earlier this year, the organization's representatives said it wanted to raise $3 million by December. Last November, Renewanation held its first public meeting at a banquet at the Hotel Roanoke, raising $270,000 and drawing more than 300 people.

On Friday, Adams would not reveal his fundraising target for the Tuesday banquet, but he called the event "another stepping stone" to future goals. Landing Cathy to address the group was one step in the right direction.

Adams said he initially made a call to Chick-fil-A's headquarters, but efforts by some local Chick-fil-A employees sealed the deal for Cathy's trip to Roanoke. Many of these employees volunteer with Renewanation, and they requested to Chick-fil-A that Cathy make an appearance in Roanoke, Adams said.

Cathy will speak for free, Adams added.