Help SUBWAY® Restaurants Support Local Charities Like Make-A-Wish®
I have been a long-time supporter of the Make-A-Wish® foundation. When my nephew came down with cancer at a very early age, the Make-A-Wish® foundation stepped right in and made his dream of meeting his most favored athlete came true.
When I learned that over 7,800 SUBWAY® Restaurants located all over the USA & Canada were joining forces with several charities to give back to the local community, I was excited to take part anyway I could. The “You Share, We Share” program is a fabulous organization that I just had to share with you.
Starting now, and running through August 31st, you can visit your local SUBWAY® Restaurant and find out what charities they are supporting in your area. The “You Share. We Share” campaign encourages the community to get out and share their weekends with SUBWAY® Restaurants, and SUBWAY® Restaurants in the Cincinnati area will share right back by donating a percentage of weekend sales, up to $40,000, directly to Make-A-Wish® Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana. As locally owned and operated franchises, SUBWAY® is excited to be able to further its commitment to the local community.
Meet Levi. At the ripe young age of 6 years old, Levi is fighting a very rare, congenital disorder leaving him home bound and unable to travel for health reasons. Levi has a very supportive, young best friend named Emma. Emma has become a strong pillar of joy and support in Levi’s life and his Make-A-Wish® request was to send his best friend on the trip of a lifetime to Orlando, FL. Filled with all the scenic stops including the various theme parks in the Orlando area, as well as a breathtaking view of the ocean.
Emma and her family traveled to sunny Orlando and enjoyed each and every moment. What made the trip even more special, was that “Flat Levi” went with there everywhere they went. When they returned home, Levi was surprised with a beautiful flip-picture book of each and every moment “he” and Emma shared during the dream vacation. The power of this selfless act and friendship speaks volumes and was made possible thanks to the wonderful donations made to the Make-A-Wish® Foundation.
The Make-A-Wish® foundation grants wishes to children ages 2 1/2 to 18 who are dealing with life- threatening medical conditions. Here are some facts about the wishes granted by Make-A-Wish®:
- Make-A-Wish grants a wish, on average, every 38 minutes and, on average, a child is referred for a wish every 28 minutes.
- Make-A-Wish has more than 25,000 active volunteers in the United States.
- Nearly 70 percent of wish experiences involve travel.
- As of March 2010, the average cost of a wish was $7,025.
- Make-A-Wish granted nearly 14,000 wishes in 2011 alone.
According to the Wish Impact Study in 2011:
- Ninety-nine percent of parents reported that the wish experience gave their children increased feelings of happiness and 96 percent said that the wish experience strengthened their families.
- A combined 89 percent of doctors, nurses and health professionals surveyed say they believe a wish experience can influence wish kids’ physical health.
- Ninety-five percent of community volunteers reported an increased sense of compassion and 84 percent felt an increased faith in humanity.
Levi’s story is just one of thousands of wishes granted by the Make-A-Wish® foundation. By simple enjoying a tasty meal at your local SUBWAY® Restaurant, you can help make wishes like Levi’s and those of others come true. Be sure to follow Make-A-Wish® Foundation of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana via Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. You can also learn more about the SUBWAY® Restaurant “You Share. We Share.” initiative here.
Disclosure: This blog post is part of a paid SocialMoms and SUBWAY® blogging program. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own.