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Gionne Jones, IFA Foundation
gjones@franchise.org
202-662-0772

Fifth Annual Awards Will Honor Most Innovative Community Leaders and Charitable Programs on Sept. 9 in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON – (April 10, 2019) – The International Franchise Association (IFA) Foundation announced today it is now accepting nominations for the 2019 Franchising Gives Back Annual Awards. In partnership with Roark Capital Group, the fifth 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. 9 during the IFA’s Franchise Action Network Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

“Last year’s winners donated over $100 million dollars and countless volunteer hours to charities and communities across the country — and we could not have been more thrilled,” said Steve Romaniello, CFE, managing director, Roark Capital Group and founding sponsor of Franchising Gives Back. “We’re very much looking forward to this year’s awards program because we know we are only scratching the surface as there are countless IFA members who deserve recognition for the amazing things they are doing in their communities. We encourage all to enter and share their story.”

Now through June 21, current IFA members — franchisors, franchisees, and suppliers — are invited to visit http://franchisinggivesback.org/awards and nominate their company’s charitable activities performed between January ­– December 2018. 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.

“The Franchising Gives Back Awards program are a way for us to celebrate and highlight the compassion and charitable support that franchise businesses demonstrate daily by helping those in need,” said Rikki Amos, managing director of the IFA Foundation. “We encourage all IFA members to get involved no matter how big or small your program is. Whether you’re a franchisor, franchisee, or supplier partner, we urge you to nominate your peers who are doing extraordinary things in the community.”

The IFA Foundation also is continuing to build its national registry on http://franchisinggivesback.org to profile franchise businesses and their charitable activities nationwide. To date, the registry features profiles for over 540 IFA members showcasing the efforts of more than 367,000 volunteers who have donated more than $347 million and 2.6 million hours to non-profit organizations throughout the country.

Franchising Gives Back depends on donations to the IFA Foundation. For more information on contributing to Franchising Gives Back through its partner program — including sponsorship opportunities and tickets for the 2019 Franchising Gives Back Awards Celebration & Dinner — please visit http://franchisinggivesback.org/who-we-are/partners/.

About the IFA Foundation

Celebrating 36 years of education, research and excellence, the International Franchise Association (IFA) 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 58 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

Roark focuses on franchised and multi-unit business models in the retail, restaurant, consumer and business services sectors. Since inception, affiliates of Roark have invested in 62 franchise/multi-unit brands which collectively generate $27 billion in annual system revenues from 29,000 locations in 50 states and 78 countries. Roark’s current brands include Anytime Fitness, Arby’s, Batteries Plus Bulbs, Buffalo Wild Wings, CKE Restaurants (the owner of Carl’s Jr. 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), Great Expressions Dental Centers, Il Fornaio, Jimmy John’s, Jim ‘N Nick’s, Massage Envy, Miller’s Ale House, Naf Naf Grill, Orangetheory Fitness, Pet Retail Brands (the owner of Pet Supermarket and Pet Valu), Primrose Schools and Waxing the City. For more information, please visit www.roarkcapital.com.

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