Month of Giving

Children's Memorial Hospital is joining forces with Jersey Mike's Subs restaurants throughout the Chicago area in a March "Month of Giving" fundraising campaign to serve children and their families. The campaign will culminate in a nationwide event, Jersey Mike's "Make A Difference Day" on March 28.

During the month of March, customers can make a donation to Children's Memorial Hospital at any area Jersey Mike's store. Customers making a $5 donation will receive six specially branded Jersey Mike's Silly Bandz and a coupon for a free chip and a drink. One hundred percent (100%) of Silly Bandz sales will be donated to the charity.

Jersey Mike's has locations in Arlington Heights, Aurora, Chicago, Crystal Lake, Elmhurst, Geneva, Glenview, Gurnee, Lake in the Hills, Lisle, Lombard, Mount Prospect, Naperville, Niles, Orland Park, Plainfield, Schaumburg, St. Charles, Tinley Park, Vernon Hills, and Wheaton.

"Make A Difference Day" will take place at Jersey Mike"s stores nationwide to benefit more than 60 different charities in celebration of the Northeast-style sub franchise's 55th Anniversary. On March 28, residents in Lombard and nearby towns are invited to make a minimum contribution of a dollar to the Children"s Memorial Hospital in exchange for free regular size sub, although the hope is that customers will respond by giving even more.

"Children's Memorial Hospital is honored to be chosen by Jersey Mike's for their special Month of Giving promotion," said Tom Sullivan, President of Children's Memorial Foundation. "We believe our kid-focused approach makes a difference and so do others. We are continuously ranked as Illinois' top pediatric hospital and one of the nation's best by U.S. News & World Report, and our physicians are on the faculty at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. The hospital is currently engaged in the Heroes for Life campaign to raise a minimum of $600 million to help create the state-of-the-art Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, opening in downtown Chicago in summer 2012.?

Long before "cause-related marketing" became popular, reaching out to the community was a key component of Jersey Mike's mission. All franchise owners find ways to support their neighbors and employees are encouraged to volunteer their time and talents as well.

"Early on I learned from my mentors, local businesspeople, the importance of giving back to the community,?"said Peter Cancro, Jersey Mike's founder and CEO. "That is the model I chose for Jersey Mike's and we have been doing it since the beginning. The philosophy of giving back is important to us and that's why we chose to celebrate the milestone marking our 55th year with our first ever "Make a Difference Day", a national effort to ensure deserving charities get the funding they need."

For more information, visit: www.childrensmemorial.org or www.jerseymikes.com.