Giving Back
We believe in giving back to the local communities. We show our appreciation throughout the communities we serve by participating in charitable partnerships and offering fundraising programs. Each year, we focus our efforts on a few organizations to make a larger impact. We strive to support local organizations that reflect our core values and serve as a vehicle for community outreach and support.
WE CAN DO MORE, TOGETHER
$5.3 Million
contributed to non-profit partners
Since 1975
supporting our communities
Long Lasting
children focused impact
Boston Children's Hospital
is one of the nation’s premier pediatric medical centers. Founded in 1869 as a 20-bed hospital for children, today it is a 392-bed comprehensive center for pediatric and adolescent health care grounded in the values of excellence in patient care and sensitivity to the complex needs and diversity of children and families. Children’s is the primary pediatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, the largest provider of health care to the children of Massachusetts, and home to the world’s leading pediatric research enterprise.
For 2023-2024, Boston Children’s is the only hospital to be ranked #1 or #2 on U.S News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals Honor Roll 13 years in a row by the U.S. News & World Report
Since 2011, we have raised over
$1 Million
for Boston Children’s Hospital
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals of Springfield, MO, Columbia, MO and Kansas City are non-profit organizations dedicated to raising funds and awareness for the medical care of children, birth through age 18. Some are battling cancer. Some are suffering from a traumatic injury. Other requires constant care because they were born too early, or with a genetic disease. Regardless of why the kids are there, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals always have their doors open. You can help by dropping your change in the donation boxes located inside all of our Wendy’s restaurants in Missouri and Kansas.
Since 2014, we have raised more than
$.5 Million
for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
is a national nonprofit public charity dedicated exclusively to finding permanent homes for the more than 113,000 children waiting in North America’s foster care systems. Nearly 20,000 young people age out of foster care every year in the U.S.
Created by Wendy’s® founder Dave Thomas who was adopted, the Foundation implements results-driven national service programs, foster care adoption awareness campaigns and advocacy initiatives.
Since 1992, Sam and June Hamra,
and
Hamra Enterprises have raised more than
$2.5 Million
for Dave Thomas Foundation of Adoption.
Make-A-Wish® Illinois
In the Greater Chicago area, we have been partners with Make-A-Wish® Illinois since 2010 in giving back to our community.
Make-A-Wish® Illinois was founded in 1980 after a little boy named Chris was granted his lifelong dream of becoming a police officer by his local community in Arizona. Since its humble beginnings, the organization has become the largest wish granting organization in the world yet has maintained its grassroots fulfillment of its mission to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.
Each time one of our valued customers donates to Make-A-Wish® Illinois at a Hamra own and operated Panera Bread cafe in Chicagoland, a child will have the opportunity to just be a kid again through his or her magical wish. A catalyst for hope, strength and joy, a wish rekindles children’s belief in themselves and in the possibility of their future.
Since 2010, we have raised
$1.25 Million
for Make-A-Wish® of Illinois
St. Louis Crisis Nursery
An important part of our mission is to nourish and inspire the communities we serve. That’s why we’re proud to support the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery (SLCN), a free, short-term safe haven for nearly 5,000 children a year and services for their families. The Saint Louis Crisis Nursery is committed to the prevention of child abuse and neglect and provides trauma-informed emergency intervention, 24-hour respite care, and support to families in crisis
100% of all donations made at our Noodles & Co. restaurants will go directly to SLCN to help keep children safe and build strong families.
Join us in supporting the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery.
We started the partnership in
2024
and we look forward to supporting SLCN’s programs in the St. Louis region.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering research and treatment of children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Ranked one of the best pediatric cancer hospitals in the country, St. Jude is the first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children.
