Latest news with #MonthofGiving
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CT restaurant group expands its reach. Goal is to serve good food while helping the community.
The Meraki Restaurant Group, founded by Connecticut husband and wife Ken Schanke and Audrey Poynton, is widening its portfolio with another restaurant opening this week. The Somers couple is set to open the doors at Teriyaki Madness, a fast-casual Asian restaurant concept, on Prospect Avenue in West Hartford on Friday. 'I love this location, and we first saw it about two-and a half years ago,' Schanke said. 'I started nosing around and I reached out to my broker. It's a great location.' The West Hartford restaurant will be the ninth business owned by Meraki Restaurant Group, which employs more than 150 people in the state. It all started with four Jersey Mike's franchises starting with Manchester in 2018, followed by Middletown (November 2020), Rocky Hill (October 2021) and Enfield (November 2021). 'We were one of the pioneers of Jersey Mike's in the state,' Schanke said. 'At the time we opened our first location, there was one in Meriden. It's a household name now but back then there was just one in Connecticut and the next one was in Boston. We rolled the dice on a great brand.' Meraki Restaurant Group also has a partnership with the Hartford Yard Goats and Southern Connecticut State University and are scheduled to meet with Quinnipiac University about a potential partnership. Poynton is originally from Naugatuck. Schanke was born in Iowa, grew up in New Jersey and ended up in Connecticut in 2000 after several stops around the country. The couple worked for The Real Yellow Pages and spent 25 years in the corporate world with AT&T Advertising Solutions before they pivoted to business ownership with the Meraki Restaurant Group. 'We try to run our business in a place where people can build a career like my wife and I did with the phone company,' Schanke said. 'We offer health benefits and a 401K with a company match up to 4%. We are about product, people and passion.' Meraki is a Greek word meaning to do something with heart and soul. 'Not only do we want to serve a good product, but we want to help the community as well,' Schanke said. 'We do community fundraising at Jersey Mike's for anyone that signs up.' Schanke said the restaurant group is proud to have partnered with Where Angels Play Foundation to raise funds in support of a playground being built in memory of the four Koropatkin children who lost their lives in a multi-family house fire in Somers in 2024. Where Angels Play Foundation had previously built 26 playgrounds honoring the Sandy Hook School shooting victims. Schanke and Poynton live about a half mile from the Koropatkin household where 11-year-old Lukas, 9-year-old Genevieve, 7-year-old Benjamin and 5-year-old Archer were killed in the blaze. 'We did a joint 'Month of Giving' with Jersey Mike's and Teriyaki Madness and we raised over $85,000 to help build a playground in Somers in the fall,' Schanke said. 'We want to give back to the community. That's the kind of culture we have at Meraki.' Schanke and Poynton opened their first Teriyaki Madness franchises in Hamden and Enfield in December 2023, followed by Manchester in June 2024, Avon in April 2025 and now West Hartford. In total, Teriyaki Madness has 160 locations across three countries. The restaurant's top seller is the spicy chicken teriyaki bowl. He said his personal favorite is the regular teriyaki chicken bowl. Orange chicken is also a popular selection. 'The portions are huge,' Schanke said. 'I can't eat a regular bowl at once. They come with white rice, brown rice, fried rice or yakisoba noodles. … The veggies are chopped fresh every day and are steamed at the time of the order. There is nothing sitting on a steam table for an hour. Everything is fresh to order, and it takes about 10 minutes to get each order together.' Schanke said its fresh healthy concept has spread throughout Connecticut. 'Teriyaki Madness has everything fresh to order with nothing pre-sliced or pre-made,' Schanke said. 'The company has great people and a great product, and they provide a lot of support as well, with support for training and a business coach who helps you through the weeds.' Teriyaki Madness, located at 259 Prospect Ave. in West Hartford, will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Jersey Mike's Month of Giving in Bakersfield raises $79k
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Jersey Mike's said it raised $79,000 from all of its stores in Bakersfield last month during the Month of Giving fundraiser. The sandwich chain partners with more than 200 local charities each year for its nationwide fundraiser. In Bakersfield, Jersey Mike's partnered with the Ronald McDonald House, which provides a 'home away from home' for local families with critically ill children who are hospitalized. 'We've been able to work with the Ronald McDonald house in the past but we've never had this large of an amount,' franchise owner Stacy Knight said. Jersey Mike's Month of Giving is an annual fundraiser that happens every March. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Jersey Mike's opens new sub shop in Freeport
FREEPORT, Ill. (WTVO) — Jersey Mike's has opened a new location in Freeport. The storefront, at 2705 IL Rt. 26, opened on Wednesday. The grand opening will include a fundraiser for Freeport area schools. Since 2010, Jersey Mike's locations have raised more than $175 million for local charities. In 2025, the company's 15th annual Month of Giving, held in March, raised $30 million for more than 200 charities. The Freeport Jersey Mike's will be open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday. The company was founded in 1956. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Jersey Mike's presents Shriner's Erie with annual donation
A local nonprofit got a generous donation Wednesday from a national sandwich restaurant chain. The owner of three Jersey Mike's locations across Erie County presented $27,000 to Shriners Children's Erie Wednesday afternoon. Jake Schwab Worker Safety Bill advances to PA Senate again The money was raised through the sub shop's Month of Giving campaign, where a portion of their sales for a month raised money for the nonprofit. Shriners' director of philanthropy said the money will directly go to their patients in need of orthopedic care. 'At Shriners Erie, we provide that care for those children and their families when they're in situations where they need that, and we're able to do that because of Jersey Mikes,' said David Schumaker, director of philanthropy for Shriners Children's Erie. Erie airport officials warning of scam calls to passengers 'They're here for a reason, to help other kids, and to be able to help in that way, and be able to give back in that way, it's great,' said George Farantzos, a local Jersey Mike's store owner. Next Saturday, Shriners Children's Erie will host its Shredding for Shriners event to raise money for the nonprofit. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Freedom Credit Union collects donations for Way Finders' housing efforts
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – During the month of April, Freedom Credit Union will be collecting donations to help benefit the Springfield-based Way Finders at all of their branches throughout western Massachusetts. Many stores confirmed at Springfield Crossing as construction continues Way Finder's mission to create an equitable, thriving region by bringing home stability and economic mobility to western Massachusetts. The agency provides services such as emergency financial housing assistance, support for renters, and help for those facing foreclosure. It also helps people secure employment, economic mobility, and home ownership. The donations that the community is invited to make will help fund the following efforts: Building and managing affordable housing in urban, rural and suburban settings Helping more than 5,000 families access emergency assistance and housing subsidies every year Helping people become first time home buyers Providing emergency shelter to families experiencing homelessness Supporting young parents and survivors of domestic abuse Fostering housing stability through financial education and employment The bank collects donations every month for a different charity as part of its Month of Giving campaigns. 'Safe and secure housing is a basic essential,' said Freedom Credit Union President Glenn Welch. 'Financial instability combined with a shortage of affordable housing in our region has forced many people into dire circumstances. We hope they know they're not alone.' WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
