Educational Foundation Announces Call for Nominations for Inaugural Franchising Gives Back Annual Awards

Awards Program Will Recognize the Best, Most Innovative Community Leaders and Charitable Programs Nationwide

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May 13, 2015, 09:13 ET

WASHINGTON, May 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the launch of Franchising Gives Back at the International Franchise Association (IFA) Annual Convention in Las Vegas in February, the IFA Educational Foundation announced today that it is accepting nominations for the inaugural Franchising Gives Back Annual Awards. Established in partnership with Roark Capital Group, the awards program will salute the best, most innovative community leaders and charitable programs nationwide.

"We continue to be inspired by the stories of how franchise businesses make an impact on their local communities and around the world. The Franchising Gives Back Awards program will recognize the significant contributions businesses make and inspire others to do the same," said John Reynolds, CFE, president of the IFA Educational Foundation. "We encourage IFA members to become part of this year-long celebration and nominate their company's community support programs."

"As founding partner of Franchising Gives Back, we are honored to be part of such a great initiative and recognize those businesses with an exceptional commitment to community leadership across the U.S. and around the world," said Steve Romaniello, CFE, managing director, Roark Capital Group. "These companies will set an example for our industry to follow and inspire others to join our efforts in making a difference."

Now through June 26, current IFA members and/or any of their affiliated organizations are invited to visit franchisinggivesback.org/awards and nominate their company's charitable initiatives performed in 2014. Winners will be selected in five categories and honored at a special event in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 28, 2015. The awards categories are:

Spirit of Franchising Award — honors an IFA member whose charitable or community support program embodies the spirit of what it means to be a part of the franchising industry by giving back to his or her local community.
The Newcomer Award — highlights a new charitable or community support program launched that has made a significant impact on a local community.
Enduring Impact Award — honors an IFA member with a longstanding commitment to his or her community that has been executing an outstanding charitable or community support program(s) for at least five consecutive years.
Support Our Veterans Award — recognizes an IFA member whose charitable or community support program has gone above and beyond the call of duty to help those men and women who have served in the U.S. military and their families, and positively impacted their local community along the way.
Innovation and Impact Award — honors an IFA member whose charitable or community support program focused on using creative, innovative ways to maximize the benefits and impact on their community with limited resources.

Additionally, as part of the national initiative for Franchising Gives Back, the IFA Educational Foundation is developing a national registry of the franchising industry's charitable contributions. 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. The IFA Educational Foundation also will develop a Franchising Gives Back Annual Report highlighting the industry's contributions and a best practices guide for IFA members who want to develop their community support and charitable activities.

Franchising Gives Back depends on donations to the IFA Educational 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/.

About the International Franchise Association Educational Foundation
Founded in 1983, the IFA Educational 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.

About the International Franchise Association
Celebrating 55 years of excellence, education and advocacy, the International Franchise Association is the world's oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the more than 780,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.9 million direct jobs, $890 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy and 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 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.

About Roark Capital Group
Roark Capital Group is an Atlanta-based private equity firm that focuses on consumer, business and environmental service companies, with a specialization around franchised and multi-unit business models in the retail, restaurant and consumer services sectors. Since inception, Roark has acquired 34 franchise/multi-unit brands which have generated $16 billion in annual system revenues from 18,000 locations in 50 states and 72 countries. Roark's current brands include Anytime Fitness, Arby's, Atkins Nutritionals, Batteries Plus Bulbs, Carl's Jr., Corner Bakery, FOCUS Brands (the owner of Auntie Anne's Pretzels, Carvel Ice Cream, Cinnabon, McAlister's Deli, Moe's Southwest Grill, and Schlotzsky's), Hardee's, Il Fornaio, Massage Envy, Miller's Ale House, Money Mailer, Pet Valu, Primrose Schools, Waxing the City, and Wingstop. Environmental services platform companies include Quala and Solterra Recycling Solutions. For more information please visit www.roarkcapital.com.

Contact:
Ashley Rodriguez
Fish Consulting
[email protected]
571-312-6174

Gionne Jones
IFA Educational Foundation
[email protected]
202-662-0772

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SOURCE International Franchise Association