The Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, the charitable foundation supported by Dunkin’, celebrates its 10th annual volunteer month this April. Nationwide, nearly 2,000 Dunkin’ franchisees and crew members will be volunteering their time at more than 100 volunteer events at food banks in unison with Inspire Brand’s “Good Citizens Month.”
In honor of the Foundation’s 10 year commitment to volunteerism, the Joy in Childhood Foundation is announcing $1 million in grants supporting food access programs to help end childhood hunger. Twenty food banks across the country will receive $50,000 grants to support child hunger programming, including backpack, school pantry, and summer food programs, during the annual volunteer events. This announcement follows a recent $550,000 grant to Feeding America which is currently being distributed to affiliated food banks. Dozens of food banks will be celebrating their Feeding America grants throughout April at planned volunteer events
The Foundation’s “month of joy” will include over 100 volunteer events in 35 states. In 2014, the Joy in Childhood Foundation began hosting an annual “week of joy” with volunteer events organized across the country for franchisees, crew members and Dunkin’ corporate employees to give back by volunteering at local food banks. This program evolved into a month-long initiative, with a record 100+ events last April. 2024 marks the Foundation’s 10th year with over 30,000 hours volunteered in food banks across the country to date.
“What makes Dunkin’ different is that unlike most companies who leverage corporate employees for volunteer events our Foundation brings together franchisees, restaurant crew members, and corporate employees to give back and spread joy to the local communities in which we live and work,” said Victor Carvalho, franchisee and Chairman of the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation Board of Directors. “This year I am excited to be celebrating a decade of volunteerism with over 100 volunteer events across 35 states and another $1 million commitment to support programs helping end childhood hunger.”
In 2022, 44 million people—1 in 5 children—faced food insecurity in the U.S. The end of pandemic-era relief efforts and increasing food costs have significantly impacted peoples’ abilities to put food on the table.
Since 2015, the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation has granted nearly $11 million to over 1,500 hunger relief organizations. Of that, $6.25 million has directly supported Feeding America’s childhood hunger-relief efforts. As part of its continued support of Feeding America, the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, alongside Dunkin’ franchisees, brand employees and crew members, volunteer at food banks across the country throughout the year.
