Jersey Mike’s Subs and customers of the fast casual sandwich chain raised more than $30 million in March to help more than 200 local charities around the country.
The record amount was raised during Jersey Mike’s annual Month of Giving, which was capped off by the Day of Giving on March 26.
Throughout March, Jersey Mike’s locations in the U.S. and Canada accepted donations. On the Day of Giving, 100% of sales — not just profits — from the day was donated to local charities that included hospitals, youth organizations, food banks and more, according to an announcement by the company.
This year’s fundraising total exceeds the $25 million raised during the 2024 campaign. Since the Month of Giving began in 2011, Jersey Mike’s has raised $143 million for local charities.
The Jersey Mike’s locations choose the charity they want to support. For the second year, 28 Jersey Mike’s Subs in the greater Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre areas chose the nonprofit Where Angels Play as their charity of choice.
Where Angels Play builds playgrounds and names them in remembrance of family members who tragically or suddenly passed away.
This year, the greater Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre area Jersey Mike’s, along with four Connecticut locations, raised a total of $368,765 for the organization.
Gerrit Curan is a franchise owner of 24 Jersey Mike’s locations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including the Berks County locations in Spring and Muhlenberg townships. Sixteen of Curan’s Jersey Mike’s locations supported Where Angels Play, raising a total of $178,923.
“This has been another memorable Month of Giving,” Curran said. “Thank you to our generous customers for coming in to support the important mission of Where Angels Play as well as to our team members who shared their passion for the organization every day throughout March, and especially on Day of Giving.”
Following last year’s Month and Day of Giving, Curran and members of his team spent time working in two playground builds for Where Angels Play — in Newtown, Bucks County and the other in Hamilton, Mercer County, N.J.
In addition to the two Berks stores, Curan’s Jersey Mike’s locations in Bucks, Northampton, Lehigh and Luzerne counties, as well as Clinton, N.J., joined with locations in Hatfield, Kennett Square, Blue Bell, West Chester, Phoenixville, Horsham and Radnor in support of Where Angels Play.
The organization was formed in late 2012 following the devastation of Hurricane Sandy and the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Connecticut just two months later.
Since then, 70 playgrounds in 12 states, as well as Puerto Rico, Canada and Rwanda, have been built by Where Angels Play, according to Bill Lavin, founder of the organization.
Lavin previously told MediaNews Group that the $269,486 raised last year by Jersey Mike’s for Where Angels Play was almost enough to build two playgrounds.
For the two years, the donation to Where Angels Play from Jersey Mike’s totals $638,765.
“What Jersey Mike’s Month of Giving has provided is so much more than the incredible generosity Where Angels Play and so many other charities receive,” Lavin said.
“Jersey Mike’s has created a movement, a culture of kindness and hope that has been infectious to every customer that walks in their stores. If every American could experience the love and generosity the Month of Giving inspires, the world would be a better place. They are truly a special American business with a culture that changes lives. We are beyond grateful to every member of their staff.”
Jersey Mike’s Subs has more than 4,000 locations open and in development. This year marks 50 years since Peter Cancro, Jersey Mike’s founder and CEO, bought his first sub shop when he was just 17.
