Franchising Gives Back Celebrates the Best, Most Innovative Community Leaders and Charitable Programs Nationwide
WASHINGTON, D.C. — (Feb. 16, 2014) – The International Franchise Association (IFA) Educational Foundation today launched its Franchising Gives Back program at the IFA’s annual convention in Las Vegas. Franchising Gives Back salutes the best, most innovative community leaders and charitable programs nationwide.
“Franchising Gives Back is a year-long celebration of community leadership across the U.S. and around the world,” said John Reynolds, CFE, president of the IFA Educational Foundation. “Franchise businesses give back in countless ways each day, bringing people together in service to others and building strong communities. Franchising Gives Back shines a light on these exemplary leaders who are giving back and inspiring their peers to do the same.”
As part of the Franchising Gives Back national initiative, the IFA Educational Foundation has begun development of a national registry of the franchising industry’s charitable contributions and community support. Members of the IFA can contribute to the national registry by visiting www.franchisinggivesback.org to register and create a profile for their organization. Companies can submit details about their charitable activities — including hours volunteered and money donated — as well as upcoming events, news and blog posts.
Additionally, in early March, the IFA Educational Foundation will announce its call for nominations for the first Franchising Gives Back Annual Awards Program recognizing the significant contributions franchise businesses make to their communities. IFA members will have the opportunity to submit nominations in a number of categories to recognize their charitable initiatives that their businesses support in local communities throughout the year. Winners will be honored during a special event in September 2015.
Plans are being finalized to publish its first 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.
As part of the IFA Foundation’s “Shaping the Future of Franchising” fundraising campaign launched last year, the Roark Capital Group made a lead gift to the Foundation as the founding partner of Franchising Gives Back.
“The IFA often cites the economic impact franchise business owners have made, employing millions of Americans and creating new jobs each year, but the charitable work being done by small business owners is equally powerful,” said Steve Romaniello, CFE, Managing Director, Roark Capital Group. “We are honored to be the founding partner of Franchising Gives Back and celebrate the billions of volunteer hours and dollars franchise businesses donate each year.”
For more information on Franchising Gives Back and to submit details about charitable programs and community support initiatives, visit www.franchisinggivesback.org.
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 specializes in franchise, brand management, environmental services and marketing services companies with attractive growth prospects. Roark focuses on middle-market investment opportunities through family-owned business transfers, management and corporate buyouts, recapitalizations, going-private transactions and corporate divestitures. The firm has $3 billion of equity capital under management. For more information, visit www.roarkcapital.com.
