News

June 20, 2011 – Although the only requirement to get a free sub during Making A Difference Day on March 28 at Jersey Mike’s Subs was a $1 (one dollar) donation to the Life of Riley Foundation many customers went well above that. “Our manager asked one gentleman if he thought he could give more and the customer asked how much and our manager responded, ‘How about $50?’ and the customer pulled out a fifty dollar bill!”,  recounts Kathleen Schulte, co-owner with her husband, Bill, of two locations in Sarasota. It was the culmination of a month-long campaign during which customers who made a $5 donation received Jersey Mike’s branded Silly Bandz along with a coupon for free chips and a drink. One hundred percent (100%) of the proceeds from the sale of the Silly Bandz also went to the Life of Riley Foundation a local non-profit that promotes awareness about pediatric brain tumors, raises money for a cure and provides support to and a voice for families whose children live with these tumors.

Kelly Saba, mother of Riley for whom the foundation was named after she died of a brain tumor at the age of 7, said, “Making a Difference Day is a perfect name for this event because that’s just what it is: making a difference in a child’s life and their families’ that have been given the worst possible news – “your child has a brain tumor.”  It’s about giving support to the family while they focus on saving their child’s life.  Helping the here and now and contributing to our research endowment fund to support research to find a cure is our purpose and Jersey Mike’s Subs has been such an incredible part of our mission over the last several years. Jersey Mike’s Franchise System as well as the Schulte family is so generous with their time and money. They are behind our mission 100% and we really appreciate it.”