For the fourth consecutive October, Jersey Mike's Subs is activating its partnership with Best Buddies International to mark National Disability Employment Awareness Month — and this year the fast-casual chain is leaning harder on the workforce infrastructure it has quietly built since 2023.
Throughout October, customers at participating U.S. locations can round up their purchase to the nearest dollar or make an outright donation in-store, through the Jersey Mike's app, or on the brand's website. Third-party delivery orders are not eligible. The chain says 100% of customer donations flow directly to Best Buddies, and contributions are tax deductible.
Beyond a Donation Drive
What distinguishes this campaign from a typical cause-marketing round-up is the operational depth behind it. Over the past three years, Jersey Mike's and Best Buddies have developed dedicated training protocols, a candidate-matching process, and hiring practices designed specifically to bring individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) — including those with Down Syndrome and Autism — onto store teams. That infrastructure now spans locations across the country, a meaningful build-out for a franchise system of more than 3,300 units.
CEO Charlie Morrison framed the initiative around workplace value rather than charity. "National Disability Employment Awareness Month is a time to recognize the value that people of all abilities bring to the workplace and our communities," Morrison said. "Giving back is a core value at Jersey Mike's and we're proud to continue our partnership with Best Buddies for another year."
Why Operators Should Pay Attention
For restaurant operators watching labor strategy, the Jersey Mike's model offers a replicable template. Integrated employment programs for people with IDD have gained traction across foodservice as chains grapple with persistent staffing challenges and growing pressure to demonstrate tangible social commitments. Building structured onboarding and matching systems — rather than relying on ad hoc hires — is increasingly how brands convert a nonprofit partnership into measurable workforce outcomes.
Anthony K. Shriver, Founder, Chairman & CEO of Best Buddies International, pointed to the real-world results: "Together, we've opened doors to meaningful employment and given countless individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities the chance to thrive and make friends in the workplace."
Jersey Mike's trajectory adds context to this story. The chain ranked No. 1 on Entrepreneur's 2026 Franchise 500 and topped the quick-service category in the 2026 American Customer Satisfaction Index Restaurant and Food Delivery Study — metrics that suggest its operational culture, of which inclusive hiring is now a stated pillar, resonates with both guests and franchisees. For other multi-unit operators exploring similar commitments, the progression from handshake partnership to codified hiring process over four years illustrates the kind of timeline and investment required to make IDD employment genuinely scalable.
Industry observers tracking restaurant workforce trends and broader foodservice labor developments will note that purpose-driven hiring programs are increasingly intersecting with franchise recruitment and brand differentiation strategies — making the Jersey Mike's–Best Buddies model worth watching as it continues to expand.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
