The Papa Johns Foundation Awards Nearly $1.4 Million in Grants to 270 Nonprofit Organizations to Build the Leaders of Tomorrow, Fight Hunger and Reduce Food Waste

By: The Papa Johns Foundation via Business Wire

November 01, 2023 at 09:00 AM EDT

Today, The Papa Johns Foundation announced it has awarded nearly $1.4 million through the Foundation’s Building Community Fund to 270 organizations whose work supports one or more of the Foundation’s focus areas – youth leadership and entrepreneurship, food security and food waste reduction. Franchise partners who own and operate Papa Johns locations, as well as teams at Papa Johns corporate-owned restaurants, applied to the Foundation for these grants on behalf of local organizations addressing these areas within their respective communities. Launched in 2021, the Building Community Fund has invested nearly $4 million to local organizations in franchisees’ communities.

Local organizations in more than 39 states will use these grants to support a wide range of efforts across the Foundation’s focus areas:

Youth Leadership and Entrepreneurship – including 61 grants to local chapters/affiliates of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Junior Achievement.
Food Security and Food Waste Reduction – including grants to nine local chapters of Food Recovery Network, a national nonprofit that unites students at colleges and universities to fight food waste and hunger by recovering perishable food that would otherwise go to waste. The Foundation’s support of Food Recovery Network and other organizations committed to reducing hunger is one way Papa Johns and the Foundation plan to meet its goal of donating 10 million meals to those in need over the next five years.

“Each day, our franchisees are working in their communities to empower the next generation of leaders, fight hunger and reduce food waste,” said Madeline Chadwick, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Papa Johns. “Through the Building Community Fund, the Papa Johns Foundation is able to support their efforts and contribute to our shared goal of improving the communities we serve.”

Last month, Papa Johns announced the return of its Shaq-a-Roni pizza. Created in partnership with board member and franchisee Shaquille O’Neal, the Shaq-a-Roni delivers a whole lot of extra – with extra cheese and extra pepperoni on each extra-large slice. But this fan-favorite pepperoni pie serves up more than just big flavor, as $1 from every Shaq-a-Roni sold is donated to The Papa Johns Foundation, supporting local community organizations as they work towards equality, fairness, respect and opportunity for all.

To learn more about the Papa Johns Foundation and to order your Shaq-a-Roni, visit www.papajohns.com/shaq.

About The Papa Johns Foundation for Building Community

Founded in 2019, The Papa John’s Foundation supports communities as they work together for equality, fairness, respect and opportunity for all. We believe empowered communities overcome divides through civility and unity, and we support organizations that share our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Through partnerships with leading national and local community organizations, The Papa John’s Foundation’s philanthropic approach focuses on Youth Leadership & Entrepreneurship, Food Security and Food Waste Reduction.