On today’s episode, Christine welcomes Robin Peters, the Executive Director of Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. In 2005, the Firehouse Sub founders established a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. The charity provides lifesaving equipment, prevention, education, scholarships, and continued education and disaster relief for first responders and public safety organizations, as well as support for members of the military. Since its inception, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation has awarded more than $62.5 million dollars to Hometown Heroes in 49 states, Puerto Rico, and now in Canada.

Today, Robin discusses her personal journey into the giving space, and about how the two brothers, Chris and Robin Sorensen, came together in 1994 to start Firehouse Subs and subsequently Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation.  She also talks about the foundation’s locations and its expansion, and shares ways you can support the nonprofit and save lives, which includes buying from the food chain and providing equipment to fire departments through the Book of Giving program. She goes on to discuss the expensive cost of equipment, the impact of COVID, and the challenges she faces in her position. Robin concludes with the stories that have been brought to her from first responders and the most fulfilling aspect of being a part of this foundation.

For more information, and other episodes on companies and entrepreneurs who give back, please visit TheGiveBackModel.com. That’s where you can also let Christine know about companies you’ve found that give back, and check out The Give Back Model merchandise, where $5 for every sale goes to charity. Thanks for listening!

Episode Highlights:

·   Robin Peters is the executive director of Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation.

·   She started out in the nonprofit sector when she started in advertising.

·   When she moved to Jacksonville, she started working for social service agencies, and that led her to Firehouse Subs because they were one of the companies that was so philanthropic and so supportive of anything any Jacksonville nonprofit was doing.

·   Firehouse Subs was started as a restaurant company in 1994 by two brothers, Chris and Robin Sorenson, who were former firefighters.

·   The inspiration to start Firehouse Subs Public Safety was born from the two founders being former firefighters, who had already given back to the community and were supporting whatever local activities that were going on.

·   The founders became involved in service during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 through providing food and other volunteer services to survivors and first responders, which focused them on how they could impact communities across the country, especially as the restaurant brand was growing, therefore establishing Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation as a nonprofit.

·   Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation is a separate 501 (c)(3) which provides the ability to do a lot of giving back with Firehouse Subs as a corporate donor.

·   Firehouse Subs and Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation are located in 49 states and its expansion to Canada.

·   They deal with different governments and rules in Canada, as well as great opportunities, raising funds, and impacting first responders on both sides of the border.

·   Peopke can support the Foundation through purchasing from the food chain, donations, and the Book of Giving program.

·   Rounding up your purchase to the nearest dollar to donate to Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation is another wayt o wupport it.

·   Fundraising campaigns are valuable to the foundation.

·   The Book of Giving program provides fire departments the equipment that they need in emergencies such as vehicle extrication tools, automated external defibrillators (AED), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), etc.

·   There are arising needs, such as the protocol after COVID to have second sets of gear because you have to clean that first set of gear.

·   The cost of equipment today is high making every little donation valuable.

·   COVID has had an impact on Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, such as restaurants shutting down.

·   More than 70% of the foundation’s donations come through the restaurant with just guests donating, so when restaurant dining rooms were closed, that ability to have engagement with the guests to be able to donate had an impact on funds that were coming in.

·   Online fundraisers and the donations from the website during COVID have been beneficial.

·   The most challenging part is the quarterly grant award process where many really good grant requests are not approved due to a lack of funds.

·   There are many great lifesaving stories, for example one where a father used an AED donated by the Book of Giving program to save his son going through a cardiac arrest in basketball practice.

·   Robin’s most fulfilling part of being a part of this foundation is giving back and providing solutions in an ever changing environment.

Quotes:

“What we want to see is that guests get that information, they understand where their money's going, and learn about the foundation.”

“Many fire departments don't always have the equipment that they need in emergencies.”

“Time in an emergency can mean the difference between a positive or very unfortunate outcome.”

“If you're in that vehicle and you're trapped, you don't want to be waiting around for the right tools to show up. That just shouldn't happen in any community.”

“Firehouse Subs, it makes it so much easier for just the average Joe to go and get a sandwich and round up or open their pockets and get that pickle bucket, or really just pay attention to the Book of Giving in all of the fundraising events that you are having.”

“Even though a lot of departments might have funding from the municipality, it's not necessarily enough. Everyone's got budgets, and there are still tough decisions. And even more important, there are many, many amazing volunteer departments that don't have access to that money.”

“It's a calling to be a first responder, going into the emergency instead of running away from them.”

“But any one of us at any time might be in need of that lifesaving equipment.” 

“What's really fulfilling is to be able to provide lifesaving equipment and know that the right tools are going to be in the right hands, but also to be able to look at what's happening and move with the times, adapt with the times and really help these departments that have to make these changes.”

“It doesn't have to be a big donation. I think sometimes very caring donors maybe can only donate $1.50.  That's fine.  Everything adds up.”

“I'm also actually really excited to see the younger generation because it's a passionate generation, really trying to make change, looking at everything. And here is something that can have a great impact on so many lives. And I really believe the younger generation ask all the right questions, and we can give them all the right answers.’ 

“It's all about donating. Because the more money we have available in our funds, the more money is able to go right back out into communities.”

 “Giving comes from the heart.”

“I think, at the end of the day, we all really do care about one another and want to help in any way we can.” 

Links:

 The Give Back Model website TheGiveBackModel.com

 Follow The Give Back Model on Instagram @thegivebackmodel

 Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation