Jersey Mike’s Month of Giving: Steven’s Hope for Children

By: Jersey Mike's Subs | 2 Shares 63 Reads

April 12, 2013 // Franchising.com // Upland, CA - Tony Cappelli, who founded Steven’s Hope for Children in Upland, California, with his wife Sandy, knows Jersey Mike’s intimately, eating there three times a week. But what he saw on Jersey Mike’s 2013 Day of Giving exceeded all expectations. On that day, 8 Inland Empire Jersey Mike’s restaurants donated 100% of sales to Steven’s Hope for Children, raising more than $35,000. This will go a long way in supporting Steven’s Hope for Children’s mission to help families of seriously ill or injured children by providing assistance to lessen the burden of the families, and surround them with caring compassion and kindness.

Cappelli, who visited six locations on March 27’s Day of Giving, said, “People kept saying, ‘Jersey Mike’s is giving 100 percent?’ – no one could fathom it. I am so blown away by the corporate culture and sense of giving. This will make a really big impact.”

Throughout the month of March, all Jersey Mike’s throughout the country invited customers to come in and make a donation to a local designated charity partner. The campaign culminated in Jersey Mike’s “Day of Giving” on Wednesday, March 27. Nationally, the program raised $1.7 million for 86 charities.

“We chose Steven’s Hope for Children for the simple fact that we were emotionally invested in the heartbreaking story of Tony Cappelli and his wife Sandy,” said Eastvale, Calif. Jersey Mike’s franchisee Gil Rubalcaba. “Knowing that we were directly involved with helping children that are in need is an overwhelming experience, to say the least. It is a positive affirmation that people can make a difference in someone’s life. Jersey Mike’s Subs is committed to the idea that businesses and the community can work together to achieve common goals and growth for all.”

The Cappellis started the organization after losing their newborn son and seeing firsthand the importance of alleviating some of the stress of dealing with seriously ill or injured children while away from home.

“The Month of Giving program separates Jersey Mike’s from everyone else,” Cappelli said. “I wish that the general public could comprehend the depth of importance that Month of Giving/Day of Giving means to a charity like us. This just funded two apartments for families for a year and funded 4 to 5 families for our Wonderland All Year program for a year.”

Steven’s Hope for Children’s new Wonderland All Year (WAY) program provides ongoing support for families, which have been assisted or housed by the organization. Every family in the program receives items like gas and food cards, clothing, birthday parties, Easter baskets, backpacks for school – all things to help kids and their families feel “normal” during extremely stressful times.

“We had board members and associate members out in the Jersey Mike’s restaurants for Day of Giving and everyone had a blast – we can’t wait to do it again next year,” Cappelli said.

SOURCE Jersey Mike’s

###