Raising over $5,000 in one day for Multiple Sclerosis
was a huge success for the Lincoln, Nebraska, Great
Harvest Bread Company. But for owners Kevin and Julie
Horne, the commitment to the event was more than just
raising money for a good cause. They also have a very
personal tie to the organization.
Kevin was diagnosed with the disease four years ago, and
said “Like so many others, my family and I are affected
every day by MS and we wanted to do something to help.”
With the support of the Nebraska Chapter of the National
MS Society, volunteers from National Research
Corporation (Kevin’s previous employer) and family
members of bakery employees, Great Harvest opened on a
Sunday, a day they’re normally closed, and donated 100%
of their sales to the cause. Lincoln Poultry donated
some ingredients to the event and the bakery kicked in
the rest.
Lisa Brink, the President of the Nebraska chapter of the
National MS Society, said, “Donating 100% of proceeds is
unheard of. This is a great example of non-profits and
for-profits collaborating to further our mission. The
Society serves more than 700 clients and their families
in the Lincoln area, and this fundraiser is a great
model for showing support in the community.”
The bakery and volunteers raised $5,180 dollars, with
the entire amount going directly to fund research and
support programs for people affected by MS.
“It exceeded our expectations.” Julie said. “We went
through 700 loaves of bread and with all the support and
energy of the volunteers, it was an incredibly fun day!
What was most surprising was the number of people who
came in and shared their own personal stories about how
MS has affected them, their families or someone they
know. It was great to have that personal connection.”
This day of giving back was truly a labor of love for
everyone involved.
It could have
been as simple as seeing a tour of the bakery and
calling it a day. Instead, Girl Scout Troop 299 took
on a long term challenge that earned them “Business
Wise” advanced badges, funds for their troop and a
$1000 contribution to the local food bank.
Oak Park, IL, Great Harvest Bread Company owner,
Cathy Yen, said, “It’s amazing what a group of
fourth graders can do if you just give them the
opportunity.” The troop worked for five months to
achieve their goals by putting in a lot of evening
hours in the bakery. They researched products and
ultimately chose Monkey Bread as their main focus.
Not only did they have to taste test and decide
between 8 different recipes, they also took on
pricing, promoting, packaging and selling their
product.
Cathy added “They made the decisions at every step.
My role was to give them the tools and information
they needed, such as ingredients availability,
costs, difficulty levels in producing certain
products and even packaging options…which they
learned influences a product’s selling price. They
took it step by step to determine the price and
profitability for selling their Monkey Bread in the
bakery.”
The troop met their goal to raise $1,000 for the
food bank, earned their “Business Wise” badges and
met at the conclusion to discuss what they learned
from the project. For Cathy, it was a great
opportunity as well. “I have a passion for helping
educate young girls, for getting them out there
thinking and working together. This group went well
beyond the usual expectations for fourth graders,
and seeing what they achieved gives me immense
satisfaction. Having the opportunity to do things
like this is one of the reasons I got into this
business in the first place.”
Matt & Sheri
Salis in Denver, CO, have created an annual event to
raise some dough for students in the Denver Public
School System experiencing homelessness. Not only do
100% of the sales dollars (not the profit – 100% of
every dollar taken in) support this cause, but also
students from local elementary schools volunteer to
help. Students bake and sell bread to raise some
dough for the Denver Public School’s Educational
Outreach Program which helps provide food, clothing,
transportation, and other essentials for the
homeless students.
In addition to the bakery owners and student
volunteers, the employees of the bread company
eagerly give up their day off and work without pay
to help make this fundraiser a success. Says
Michelle Higgins, bakery production manage, “Just
tell me where you need me and when, and I will be
there.” Michelle and the rest of the Great harvest
crew share a love of kids and a desire to make a
difference in our community. “This is a big part of
what Great Harvest is all about!!”
Customers also have the option to buy bread and
donate it back to the Educational Outreach Program.
This brings a tangible and immediate benefit to the
homeless students. Donated bread is distributed to
the students in Denver’s homeless shelters.
This year, the Salis’ raised $5800 and hundred of
loaves went to the shelters. Their Whole Grains for
Growing Brains event is a shining example of the
community spirit alive and active in Denver.
Jacque Sanchez
(Spokane, Washington) believes in hands-on helping.
That's why she welcomed three boys from the Morning
Star Boys Ranch, a home for troubled youth, into her
home and Great Harvest business. When they visit her
home, they are treated like family members. At her
business, they learn how to run a service-oriented
company.
Jacque leads by example. She has a long list of
volunteer activities and is known for donating baked
goods to the Spokane Food Bank, the Ogden House, and
numerous school fundraisers. Jacque recently won
Spokane's C. Michael Archer Community Service Award
for her efforts.
Why does Jacque spend so much of her time offering
neighborhood support? "I want to teach my own
children how they can make a difference in this
world – even if it's just one loaf at a time. As a
parent, I have a responsibility to show my kids how
to give to others who are less fortunate. Even if
you think you are so badly off that you don't have
anything to give, you can always give someone your
time."
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