From its earliest days, the Jersey Mike’s sandwich chain has made community support part of its culture. Six years ago, the company raised the profile of its charitable efforts by designating March the “Month of Giving“. Each local franchise picks a charity of its choice, and encourages its customers to make donations to that charity. On March 30, every franchise donates 100% of its sales that day to its chosen charity. In 2015, the company raised more than $3 million for 150 different charities nationwide.
Jim Pond, who grew up in Verona, is the owner of the Jersey Mike’s franchise in West Orange near Whole Foods, and he has chosen the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) as his location’s charity. Sean Squires, a West Orange High School senior, is battling the currently incurable disease, which damages the lungs and digestive system. He is also a Jersey Mike’s employee. “Sean is family at Jersey Mike’s,” Pond says simply.
This year, the campaign for a cure resonates even stronger for Squires and his family. Squires has been hospitalized twice for several weeks at a time because of the disease, and has missed a lot of school. Because CFF does not receive any funding for its research programs from the federal government, it must rely on private donations and fundraisers.
To aid in that fundraising, Pond’s store will be displaying tear-off sheets for $1, $3 and $5 donations to CFF. He will also be giving out cards that enable customers to get $1 off a sub if they make a $1 donation to CFF. Patrons who make a $3 donation will get free chips and a drink with their sub. Anyone who gives $5 will get $5 off a giant sub. And on March 30, Pond will donate every dollar he makes to CFF.
Jersey Mike’s Subs
West Orange Plaza
235 Prospect Ave.
West Orange, NJ 07052
Tel: 973-325-3220
Mon-Sun: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
