IFA Franchise Education & Research Foundation Accepting Nominations for 2017 Franchising Gives Back Awards through June 12

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Franchise Association's (IFA) Franchise Education & Research Foundation announced today it is now accepting nominations for the 2017 Franchising Gives Back Annual Awards. In partnership with Roark Capital Group, the third annual awards program salutes the best, most innovative community leaders and charitable programs nationwide. Winners will be honored at an awards celebration and dinner on Sept. 11 during the IFA's Franchise Action Network Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

"Over the last three years, Franchising Gives Back Award honorees have donated millions of dollars and thousands of volunteer hours to help communities across the United States," said Steve Romaniello, CFE, managing director, Roark Capital Group. "When we consider the number of franchise businesses nationwide — more than 733,000 — we realize the incredible impact franchising has and how much we as an industry contribute. Franchising Gives Back is just the tip of the iceberg."

Now through June 12, current IFA members and/or any of their affiliated organizations are invited to visit http://franchisinggivesback.org/awards and nominate their company's charitable activities performed between January ­– December 2016. Winners will be selected in five categories:

• 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.

Last year, the IFA Franchise Education & Research Foundation recognized five Gold Winners, including: Edible Arrangements (Edible Cares), Auntie Anne's (Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation), Ampex Brands (Snowball Express), Benetrends Financial (The Little Rock Foundation for the Blind), and AAMCO Transmissions, Inc. (Wheels of Freedom Project).

Eleven additional Silver Award Winners were recognized, including: Citrin Cooperman (Citrin Cooperman Cares), Express Employment Professionals (Brand it Blue Day), Dunkin' Brands franchisee Ron Portnoy (Dunkin Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation), Rainbow International of Columbia franchisee Reed Mattingly (Rainbow International Charity Golf Classic), Arby's (Share Our Strength / No Kid Hungry), Marriott International (Wounded Warriors Family Support), Sports Clips (Ageless Aviation Dreams Foundation), Newk's Eatery (Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance via Newk's Cares), Painting with a Twist (Painting with a Purpose), Wienerschnitzel (Skate For Change - Hot Dogs for Change), and Pinot's Palette (St. Jude Children's Research Hospital). For more information about the 2016 winners, visit http://franchisinggivesback.org/awards/awards-winners/.

"The Franchising Gives Back Awards continue to grow each year and we're constantly inspired by the stories shared by franchisors, franchisees, and supplier partners," said John Reynolds, CFE, president of the Franchise Education & Research Foundation. "We encourage all IFA members to get involved in Franchising Gives Back, whether it's by nominating their charitable program for an award or contributing to our national registry by sharing their story online."

Last October, the IFA Franchise Education & Research Foundation launched a national registry on http://franchisinggivesback.org to profile franchise businesses and their charitable activities nationwide. To date, the registry features profiles for 250 IFA members showcasing the efforts of nearly 226,000 volunteers who have donated more than $120.7 million and 1.7 million hours to non-profit organizations throughout the country.

Franchising Gives Back depends on donations to the Franchise Education & Research Foundation. For more information on contributing to Franchising Gives Back through its partner program — including sponsorship opportunities and tickets for the Annual Awards Celebration & Dinner — please visit http://franchisinggivesback.org/who-we-are/partners/.

About the IFA Franchise Education & Research Foundation
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.

About the International Franchise Association
Celebrating 56 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 733,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 7.6 million direct jobs, $674.3 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy and 2.5 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 focuses on franchised and multi-unit business models in the retail, restaurant, consumer and business services sectors. Upon completion of the Jimmy John's acquisition, affiliates of Roark Capital will have invested in 56 franchise/multi-unit brands, which have generated $23 billion in annual system revenues from 25,000 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.

Contact:
Ashley Rodriguez
Fish Consulting
[email protected]
571-351-4837

Gionne Jones
IFA Franchise Education & Research Foundation
[email protected] 
202-662-0772

SOURCE IFA Franchise Education & Research Foundation

Related Links

http://franchisinggivesback.org

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