Three Franchisees Giving Thanks and Giving Back
Today is Giving Tuesday, the Global Day of Generosity that brings the Thanksgiving season to a close with a day of gratitude. With that in mind it’s a time for many of us to reflect back with gratitude on the positives we’ve experienced in a difficult year. A number of businesses and individuals have made it a priority to give back to those who have been affected by the challenges of the pandemic, and this holiday season, IFA would like to honor a few of the many franchises who are making a difference in their communities and giving to those less fortunate.
Erin Nystrom is a Potbelly Sandwich Shop franchisee in Rochester, Minnesota and what started as an exciting business venture has turned into something bigger for her. When she acquired her second franchise location in April of 2019, she adopted a “community first” mindset to give back to the people who’d given her so much. Erin started by supporting young families through the Jeremiah Program, a support group for single mothers with young children that provides affordable housing, childcare, career assistance and life skills training. Erin’s Potbelly team has volunteered their time, donated money and prepared meals for mothers in the program. Learn more about Erin and how she answered her community’s calls for help in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic here. For more information on a franchise opportunity with Potbelly Sandwich Shop, click here.
Lester Snyder’s Massage Envy franchise was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and forced to close for long periods of time due to community mandates. In spite of these challenges, Lester continued providing health care at his own expense and ensured his employees were financially supported in this difficult time. He also joined his team members in supporting local food banks to ensure others affected by the pandemic in his community wouldn’t go hungry. Learn more about Lester’s story here. For more information on a franchise opportunity with Massage Envy, click here.
Grumpy’s Restaurant President and CEO Daniel DeLeon saw an opportunity in the COVID-19 pandemic to use his small Florida-based franchise for good in a year surrounded by difficulties. When he found that to-go-only order revenue wasn’t enough to sustain his staff’s pay during COVID shutdowns, Daniel responded by forgoing his own salary to ensure his team still went home with paychecks. As the pandemic worsened, Daniel saw the ongoing hunger needs in his community and coordinated with his suppliers to give away fresh produce to those in need. He expected the thousands of dollars of produce to last a week, but the struggling community’s demand was so high the food was gone in a single morning. Once more, Daniel increased his community support. He responded by creating the Grumpy’s Community Action Campaign, which enables local patrons to buy a $10 meal as a thank you to healthcare workers, first responders, grocery store workers, and more. To learn more about Daniel and his community efforts, click here. For more information on a franchise opportunity with Grumpy’s, click here.