2019 Franchising Gives Back Awards Ceremony
Click to see 2018 Award Winners.
Spirit of Franchising Award
The Rose Group dba Applebee’s Bar and Grill / Gold Winner
The Rose Group was one of the first companies to become a sponsor of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF). ALSF’s mission is to raise money and awareness of childhood cancer causes, primarily for research into new treatments and cures. The Rose Group began their relationship in 2005 armed with 67 restaurants participating in the promotion. By 2017 there were over 1,000 restaurants nation-wide participating. Last year Applebee’s locally and across the nation raised $1.7 million for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation bringing their fifteen-year total to over $10 million. In addition to the work they do with Alex’s Lemonade Stand, their restaurants host programs such as Flapjack Fundraisers, Dining to Donate, and provide free meals every year to veterans on Veterans Day. Since 2010, they’ve raised over $14.5 million in fundraising and in-kind support to community nonprofits and organizations.
Captain D’s / Silver Winner
About six years ago, local franchise owner Jimmy Jamshed encountered several individuals scrummaging through trash cans in desperate need of food and shelter. As an immigrant who built his life in a new nation, Jamshed felt it was his obligation to pay his success forward and help those in need. Since then, Jamshed decided to implement a daily food and clothing donation to the community of Dallas and Fort Worth, TX creating Food for Homeless. As part of his efforts, Jamshed visits Lancaster Community Park six days a week at precisely 9:30 am with 10-15 volunteers to hand out about 350 meals purchased out-of-pocket from his franchises. Jamshed has impacted not only his local homeless community but also the Captain Ds corporate family. When corporate members are in the area, they accompany Jamshed on his daily donation visits and volunteer alongside him. In total, he donates $875 daily, six days a week, totaling $252,000 per year.
Enduring Impact Award
SONIC Drive-In / Gold Winner
Created in 2009, Limeades for Learning is SONIC Drive-In’s long-running national cause initiative that supports public school teachers in local communities throughout the U.S. In partnership with DonorsChoose.org, SONIC provides essential funds for learning materials needed to inspire creativity and learning. During the annual Fall Voting campaign, SONIC puts its $1 million donation directly into the hands of guests and fans by asking them to vote for the teachers’ projects they want SONIC to support. Since 2009, SONIC has donated $13,102,421, to 33,177 classrooms to impact nearly 1 million public school students through its partnership with DonorsChoose.org.
BMW Management (Franchisees of Sizzler) / Silver Winner
Our Silver Award winner is BMW Management, Franchisees of Sizzler, USA benefitting the Student of the Month program. Sally Myers of BMW Management founded her non-profit organization, the Student of the Month Program, Inc. to inspire students across Southern California to pursue a higher education. The program, which started in Temecula, Calif. in 1992, has since spread to now 3 other communities across the region. Within her respective program’s region, Myers rallies more than 250 local businesses and raises nearly $100,000 each year to provide generous scholarships to empower and encourage the youth of America within local communities to continue their education, regardless of their adversities. At the end of the annual school year, students who are selected as a student of the month compete for the student of the year award from their respective school. The winner from each school is awarded a generous scholarship. Since its inception in 1992, the Student of the Month program has honored nearly 8,000 students to pursue their dreams and since 2002, has donated upwards of $800,000.00 toward higher education.
Support Our Veterans Award
Sport Clips / Gold Winner
This year’s Gold Award Winner is Sport Clips Haircuts benefitting Aleethia Foundation. Sport Clips Haircuts has sponsored the Aleethia Foundation’s Friday Night Dinners since 2014. Aleethia is an all-volunteer non-profit dedicated to helping service members from around the country who are recovering at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. The Friday dinners were originally started in October 2003 when injured service members began arriving at the military medical centers. For service members and their families who have experienced so much and who are often trying to heal from the wounds of war, Friday Night Dinners are a bright light and opportunity for fellowship and support. Since 2003, more than 62,000 meals have been provided to wounded, injured, and ill service members and their families and caregivers with the help and support of Sport Clips Haircuts.
Wag N’ Wash / Silver Winner
Wag N’ Wash Natural Pet Food & Grooming partnered with nonprofit Freedom Service Dogs to launch a fundraising campaign dubbed Round Up for Freedom Service Dogs. The campaign aimed to raise money to help veterans regain their independence by obtaining the assistance they need from a service animal, free of cost. In July 2018 at all Wag N’ Wash locations, when customers chose to round up to the nearest dollar during check out, the change went toward Round Up for Freedom Service Dogs, helping veterans who have made life-altering sacrifices. During the campaign, Wag N’ Wash raised close to $12,500 for Freedom Service Dogs and its holding company, Healthy Pet Partners, made a contribution of $5,0000.
Innovation and Impact Award
Just Between Friends / Gold Winner
When Shannon Wilburn and Daven Tackett started their first children’s consignment event in a living room in 1997, their goal was to help other young moms stretch a dollar and save and make money on children’s items. The event grew almost exponentially, helping thousands of local families save and make money. Now, their franchisees host “pop-up consignment events” twice a year where each franchise supports at least one local charity with cash and in-kind donations. Last year, JBF franchisees in Sonoma County used their consignment event to reach out to help hundreds of families affected by the devastation. They handed out free clothes, blankets, shoes, diapers and other essential equipment to desperate families. Working with their charity partner, Petaluma Active 20-30, to open a storage facility where JBF kept donations. Since their beginning in 2004 through the end of 2018, JBF franchises have donated more than four million items and cash worth more than 28 million dollars.
Wayback Burgers / Silver Winner
Our Silver Award winner is Wayback Burgers benefiting Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Wayback Burgers began their partnership in June 2018 with a goal of donating a minimum of $100,000 in the first year. Franchisees, through donations for every burger or sandwich sold and 2 national fundraising days have exceeded the goal with over $140,000 raised in just the first year. In addition, they sponsored a Milkshake Recipe & Naming contest with Boys & Girls Clubs across the country. They received more than 275 submissions from clubs for new milkshakes with recipes and creative names. The 3 finalists were then voted on by guests and the public. The winning shake was chosen from a club in Philadelphia, Caramel Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and was a limited time offer in all Wayback Restaurants across the US this summer. Moving forward, Wayback Burgers also plans to start a workforce training program for the clubs with Wayback franchises across the US.
The Newcomer Award
Goldfish Swim Schools / Gold Winner
Goldfish’s 89 open schools were given the tools and thought starters to plan and execute their own fundraising campaigns during Water Safety Month in May. ALL schools went out into their communities to stress the importance of water safety, visiting daycares, schools and local festivities, educating the public on steps to take to prevent drowning in their community. The funds raised throughout the month of May will allow nearly 8200 children across the country to get access to life-saving swim lessons. Goldfish Swim School has committed to raising $1,000,000 for the USA Swimming Foundation by 2024.
Premium Service Brands / Silver Winner
In the United States, 12 million children are ‘food insecure.’ Public schools help these kids by giving them free or reduced lunches and sometimes even breakfasts and dinners at school, however, these kids often go hungry on the weekends and when school isn’t in session. Premium Service Brands committed to filling that gap for a local elementary school. Every week, they grocery shop for the kids enrolled in the weekend meals program. Then, on Friday mornings, their office staff works together to pack backpacks with a weekends’ worth of food. The program provides year-round stability to kids who don’t have much stability in their lives. By committing to supporting one local school for the entire school year, they’ve made a profound impact.
