Since 1998, Doherty Enterprises, the franchisee for Applebee’s in northern and central New Jersey and Long Island, NY, has raised over $2.7 million for the U.S. Marine Corps “Toys for Tots†program thanks to its annual Breakfast with Santa fundraiser.
According to Bill Grein, Vice President of Marketing & Development of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, “Doherty’s 61 Applebee’s comprise ‘Toys for Tots’ largest annual cash contributor within the restaurant industry.â€
This past holiday season, a record-breaking $322,500 was raised for deserving children within the neighborhoods Doherty Enterprises serves. Each year, hundreds of Applebee’s servers and kitchen staff volunteer their time for the Breakfast with Santa event, so that 100% of the proceeds can go to help provide happiness and hope to disadvantaged children during the holiday season. Doherty donates every penny from the tickets to the event, plus all monies collected during its six-week sale of fundraising paper “gift packages.â€