Firehouse helps local nonprofit build trust in Northeast Florida

CONTACT:
Laura Beth Huber
Firehouse Subs
[email protected]
(904) 606-5267

Briana Johnson
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida
[email protected]
(904) 727-9797

FIREHOUSE SUBS® PARTNERS WITH BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA TO SUPPORT BIGS IN BADGES PROGRAM

WHAT
To celebrate the third year of Jacksonville’s Bigs in Badges program within Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida (BBBSNEFL), Firehouse Subs is proud to support this program with a new partnership. Bigs in Badges connects Jacksonville youth with first responder men and women as mentors to build strong, positive and impactful relationships for both the mentor and mentee.

With the goal to provide a place for the mentors and mentees in the Bigs in Badges program to visit together, Firehouse Subs will now offer a meal card for the currently enrolled and future first responder mentors that is good for their choice of either a free medium sub or free kids meal with the purchase of a medium or large sub combo on each of their visits together. The meal card will be valid for six months.

“Bigs in Badges connects children with service men and women and helps create positive associations, builds stronger bonds, and increases empathy and trust within the community,” said Sara Alford, Chief Executive Officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida. “We are proud of Northeast Florida’s active response to this critical mentoring initiative and honored by partners, like Firehouse Subs, who create awareness enabling us to impact change one little brother, one big brother, one little sister, one big sister at a time.”

To kick off the partnership, on January 21, Firehouse Subs restaurants in Jacksonville will be hosting a Community Commitment Night and will donate 15% of all proceeds to the BBBSNEFL Bigs in Badges program. Additionally, first responders interested in learning how they can become a mentor in the Bigs in Badges program will have the opportunity to complete an inquiry form during the event and, upon doing so, will receive a free sub card for their next visit to Firehouse Subs.

“The mission of the Bigs in Badges program aligns well with a core value of Firehouse Subs – our commitment and dedication to public safety,” said Robin Sorensen, co-founder of Firehouse Subs. “We’re proud to support the program with this Community Commitment Night and provide a place for the Bigs and Littles to enjoy our food while strengthening their meaningful relationships.”

To learn more about BBBSNEFL, visit www.bbbsnefl.org, and to find your nearest Firehouse Subs location, visit www.FirehouseSubs.com.

WHEN
Tuesday, January 21, 2020 from 4 p.m. – close

WHERE
Firehouse Subs restaurants in Jacksonville, Florida, including locations in Fernandina Beach, Middleburg, St. Augustine, Ocala and Gainesville, and excluding non-traditional locations like airports, hospitals and college campuses.

About Firehouse Subs
Firehouse Subs® is a fast-casual restaurant chain with a passion for Hearty and Flavorful Food, Heartfelt Service and Public Safety. Founded in Jacksonville, Florida in 1994 by brothers and former firefighters Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen, Firehouse Subs is a brand built on decades of fire and police service, hot subs, steamed and piled high with the highest quality meats and cheeses and its commitment to saving lives through the establishment of the non-profit Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation®. The founders are the real deal, the food is their creation and the brand is built upon a family of franchise operators who share their same passion for generously serving food and community. This year, Firehouse of America and Firehouse Subs suppliers will together donate a portion of all purchases at Firehouse Subs locations to Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation for the purchase of lifesaving equipment, with a minimum donation of $1 million. Firehouse Subs is consistently recognized as one of the leading brands in the U.S. among consumers. Newsweek named Firehouse Subs No. 1 in the fast-casual restaurant industry on its 2019 list of America’s Best Customer Service Brands. Firehouse Subs was listed as No. 3 in the sandwich category of “The Fast-Food Brands of the Year” by The Harris Poll’s 2019 EquiTrends Brands Equity Index. In 2018, Firehouse Subs was named the No. 1 brand in the restaurant industry that “Supports Local Community Activities” and ranked No. 1 among Fast Casual brands in “Food Quality” and “Taste and Flavor” in Technomic’s Consumer Brand Metrics rankings.

Enjoy more subs. Save more lives. To learn more, visit http://www.firehousesubs.com.

Quick Facts:
More than 1,180 restaurants in 46 states, Puerto Rico, Canada and non-traditional locations
$48+ million granted to public safety organizations via Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation®
Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida’s (BBBSNEFL) mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. BBBSNEFL operates under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. For more than 100 years, BBBSNEFL has impacted children, families, and our community by providing mentoring services proven to help our kids beat the odds. By placing a caring adult in the life of a child, we create safe, high-quality, long-lasting mentoring relationships that inspire local youth to realize their full potential through personal and academic achievement. Professionally supported by our staff, road-maps for success are developed in concert with parents, Littles, and Bigs. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida is a leading agency in Bigs in Badges participants. We know that mentoring works! In 2018-19, 97% of youth were promoted on time to the next grade, 96% of youth had no behavioral referrals or suspensions and 89% of youth maintained or improved school attendance. One in three kids will grow up with a mentor (mentor.org). For just a few hours or month, local youth are exposed to new beginnings and opportunities.

Together, we are defenders of potential. To learn more or become a mentor, visit www.bbbsnefl.org.

Quick Facts:
Leading Agency in Bigs in Badges with 163 total participants
100% of youth avoided the Juvenile Justice System
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida services 8 counties:
Duval, Clay, Nassau, Putnam Flagler, Volusia, Baker and Union