Online database shines a spotlight on the philanthropic work of franchise industry leaders
The International Franchise Association’s (IFA) Franchise Education & Research Foundation announced today it has launched a National Registry to profile franchise businesses and their charitable activities nationwide, as part of the organization’s Franchising Gives Back program.
To date, the registry features profiles for more than 230 IFA members showcasing the efforts of nearly 226,000 volunteers who have donated more than $120.5 million and 1.7 million hours to non-profit organizations throughout the country.
The Franchising Gives Back National Registry recognizes the charitable work being done by thousands of franchise businesses, their suppliers, and franchisors from supporting Little League baseball teams, to donating food for homeless shelters, to organizing marches for cancer research.
Members of the IFA can register and create a profile for their organization by visiting franchisinggivesback.org, where they can submit details about their charitable activities — including hours volunteered and money donated — as well as upcoming events, news and blog posts.
Established by a generous donation from Roark Capital Group, Franchising Gives Back salutes the best, most innovative community leaders and charitable programs nationwide.
“We are thrilled to support Franchising Gives Back. The economic footprint of franchising is very big providing millions of jobs and economic output, but the social footprint is equally powerful, touching the lives of our neighbors in thousands of communities,” said Steve Romaniello, CFE, managing director, Roark Capital Group.
“We are excited to announce the launch of the National Registry, a valuable tool that highlights all of the hard work our members do to give back, and encourage all members who have not yet registered their charitable programs to get involved today,” said Doc Cohen, CFE, Foundation Chairman.
The Franchising Gives Back National Registry includes profiles of charitable work for registered members spanning a wide spectrum of industries and non-profit organizations. Examples include the recent winners of the 2016 Franchising Gives Back Awards, such as Edible Arrangements and its Edible Cares program; Auntie Anne’s support of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation; Ampex Brands’ commitment to serving children who have lost a military parent since 9/11; Benetrends Financial, whose CEO created a non-profit, The Little Rock Foundation, that aims to improve the lives of blind and visually impaired children; and AAMCO Transmissions, Inc. franchisee Gary Denton, who founded the Wheels of Freedom Project.
For more information about Franchising Gives Back or to create a profile for your company’s charitable work on the National Registry, please visit www.franchisinggivesback.org.
Franchising Gives Back depends on donations to the IFA Franchise Education & Research Foundation. For more information on contributing to Franchising Gives Back through its partner program — including sponsorship opportunities for the Annual Awards event — please visit franchisinggivesback.org/who-we-are/partners/.
Founded in 1983, the International Franchise Association (IFA) Franchise Education & Research Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt organization and supported through the generous contributions of IFA members and others. The Foundation’s mission is to advance franchising and the free enterprise system by increasing the knowledge and professional standards of all members of the franchising community; educating the next generation of franchise practitioners; increasing recognition of franchising’s key role in the free enterprise system; and providing comprehensive information and research about important developments and trends in franchising.
Celebrating 55 years of excellence, education and advocacy, the International Franchise Association is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology and business development.
Roark focuses on franchised and multi-unit business models in the retail, restaurant, consumer and business services sectors. Affiliates of Roark have invested in 56 franchise/multi-unit brands which collectively generate $21 billion in annual system revenues from 23,000 locations in 50 states and 75 countries. Roark’s current brands include Anytime Fitness, Arby’s, Atkins Nutritionals, Batteries Plus Bulbs, CKE Restaurants (the owner of Carl Jr.’s and Hardee’s), Corner Bakery, Driven Brands (the owner of Maaco, Meineke, CARSTAR, 1-800-Radiator and Take 5 Oil Change), Drybar, FOCUS Brands (the owner of Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Carvel Ice Cream, Cinnabon, McAlister’s Deli, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and Schlotzsky’s), Il Fornaio, Massage Envy, Miller’s Ale House, Naf Naf Grill, Orangetheory Fitness, Pet Retail Brands (the owner of Pet Supermarket and Pet Valu), Primrose Schools, Waxing the City and Wingstop. For more information, please visit www.roarkcapital.com.
