2018 Franchising Gives Back Awards Ceremony
Click to see 2017 Award Winners.
Spirit of Franchising Award
A Novel Idea (Auntie Anne’s and Cinnabon Franchisee) / Gold Winner
As an Auntie Anne’s franchisee since 2000, Lisa Fullerton has devoted her time and resources to supporting franchising and small business. Lisa has served as a board member for the Texas NFIB (National Federation of Independent Business); board member and Public Policy Chair for NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners); board member for the San Antonio Tourism Council; member of a San Antonio Business Coalition group; and an active member of two San Antonio Chambers. Annually, she is one of the Auntie Anne’s system’s’ biggest fundraisers for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, raising more than $70,000 for childhood cancer research since 2011. In addition, for the last 15 years, Lisa has supported San Antonio Clubhouse, an international recovery center for adults living with a mental health diagnosis where she has sponsored $15,000 in matching grants – which were leveraged to raise a total of $90,000 –and has employed 30-35 Clubhouse members through the organization’s Transitional Employment program at her Auntie Anne’s and Cinnabon locations.
Crimson Enterprises (Captain D’s franchisee) / Silver Winner
Over the last three years, Captain D’s Castin’ ‘N Catchin’ fishing tournament has raised more than $340,000 benefiting Children’s of Alabama’s Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center. The event attracts over 400 fishermen from all over the South and invites them to participate in a tournament and dinner and awards reception. Money raised from the event has funded the hiring of a full-time research assistant, research on renal care for cardiac patients, and a camp to teach patients with cardiac issues about caring for their condition. Visit site.
Enduring Impact Award
Molly Maid / Gold Winner
In 1996, Molly Maid chartered the Ms. Molly Foundation and has since grown to raise more than $2.8 million for over 120 shelters, safe houses, and domestic violence agencies across America. During National Domestic Violence Month in October each year, Molly Maid spearheads its annual “Making a Difference Drive” to support victims of this intolerable crime. Approximately 80 percent of locally owned and operated Molly Maid franchise offices raise and donate funds and collect personal care items to donate to local community safe houses and agencies. Visit site.
Hooters of America / Silver Winner
Since 2005, Hooters has been donating to the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Its Give A Hoot program has been an active participant in the fight against breast cancer, raising over $5 million for the V Foundation. Funds are designated for breast cancer research and clinical trial outreach in honor of Kelly Jo Dowd, a former Hooters waitress and the company’s first female general manager, who passed away from the disease. The goal each year is to raise $1 million towards the fight against breast cancer. In addition to its work with the V Foundation, the Hooters Give a Hoot program has implanted the Tuition Reimbursement Program, which has provided more than $3.3 million in tuition reimbursement for hourly team members. On average, Hooters assists approximately 375 hourly employees each semester. Visit site.
Support Our Veterans Award
Jersey Mike’s Subs LA Co-Op / Gold Winner
Operation Gratitude is a military-base charity that sends individually addressed care packages to our military deployed overseas and their children left behind, as well as first responders, new recruits, veterans, and wounded heroes. Each package contains snacks, hygiene products, entertainment and handmade items, as well as personal letters of support. Through collection drives and care package assembly events, Operation Gratitude provides civilians anywhere in America a way to say “Thank You” through active, hands-on volunteerism. To date, the Jersey Mike’s Los Angeles Co-Op has raised more than $2.4M for Operation Gratitude during the company-wide annual charitable initiative Month of Giving. These funds have helped support the non-profit organization’s mission and paid for the shipping of 170,000 care packages. Visit site.
Ben’s Soft Pretzels / Silver Winner
Since 2015, Ben’s Soft Pretzels celebrates National Pretzel Day by partnering with the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund to raise money for veterans in need through the “Pretzels for Heroes” program. On National Pretzel Day, Ben’s Soft Pretzels gives away free Jumbo Soft Pretzels in exchange for a minimum $1 donation to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund serves United States Military personnel suffering the effects of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress (PTS). Over the past three years, Ben’s Soft Pretzels has raised more than $126,000 for the Fund and donated over $450,000 in free pretzels. Visit site.
Innovation and Impact Award
Uptown Cheapskate / Gold Winner
Uptown Cheapskate stores facilitate buying and selling gently-used clothing as the core of their business, but donating used clothing isn’t the most effective way to raise money for charity. Its Charity Fill-a- Bag event solves that problem by converting clearance and donated merchandise directly into cash by selling a $15 bag that customers stuff full of product. All bag sales go directly to its charity partner, buildOn, to build schools in some of the most under-served areas in the world. Together with its sister franchise, Kid to Kid, Uptown Cheapskate has raised over $360,000 through its Fill-a-Bag event. Those donations have been used to fund the construction of 12 (and counting) schools. Visit site.
1HUDDLE / Silver Winner
When 1HUDDLE relocated its company headquarters to Newark, New Jersey, they knew it was important to be active within the local community and find a way to help tackle challenges faced by local residents. So in 2017, they teamed up with the City of Newark and Newark Works, which is overseen by the Newark Workforce Development Board and provides employment and training programs for the city’s residents. The program’s ultimate goal is to help place residents in sustainable employment that pays a livable wage and help them become productive members of the community by providing vocational, educational and life skills training. 1HUDDLE donated their technology to the City of Newark and led the effort to take the existing workforce training program and convert it into quick-burst mobile games through the 1HUDDLE gaming platform. Since introducing residents to 1HUDDLE, the city has reported that individuals who used the platform to prepare for the state-mandated workforce skills test are 50 percent more likely to pass it than those who don’t. To date, more than 1,000 residents throughout the community have utilized 1HUDDLE’s donated technology as a resource to better their chances of not just gaining employment, but in being ready to work Visit site.
The Newcomer Award
College Hunks Hauling Junk / Gold Winner
College Hunks Hauling Junk teamed up with Feeding Children Everywhere by deploying “Hunks” who were already located throughout the country to help set up Hunger Projects, where they hosted meal-packaging events. This allowed for a 40 percent reduction in air travel for Feeding Children Everywhere, saving the organization money and creating a more environmentally friendly way to conduct its operations. In 2017, College Hunks had the goal of 300,000 meals donated within one year. To date, more than 400,000 meals have been donated, putting College Hunks ahead of the game as they continue to work towards its goal of 1,000,000 meals by 2020. Visit site.
Island Creamery Inc. (Baskin Robbin’s Franchisee in Puerto Rico) / Silver Winner
Last year, the Baskin-Robbin’s franchisee in Puerto Rico developed the massive media effort “Puerto Rico Renace” (Puerto Rico Rebirth) to deliver supplies to victims of the devastating hurricanes, Irma and Maria. On-going efforts include providing fuel, food, and bottled water to several thousand crewmembers and citizens stranded without essential resources. To channelize the effort, they dedicated a hotline for distressed victims, and promoted the messaging on their local Baskin-Robbins website and social media pages. To date, the team has donated over 150,000 water bottles, 38,000+ meals, and 55,000+ gallons of diesel fuel to residents of Puerto Rico in need. Visit site.
