• by Teresa Buyikian , October 3, 2024

 Marco’s Pizza is lifting up local area youth with a commitment to the next generation of entrepreneurs.

The chain’s Marco’s Pizza Foundation announced it has teamed up with Junior Achievement USA (JA) to support its mission of “providing tools, resources, and hands-on learning opportunities for students to promote financial literacy, workforce readiness, and inspire entrepreneurship.”

The Foundation’s goal is to raise $500K in donations for JA through nationwide fundraising at all 900 Marco’s locations. Guests are encouraged to either round up their change or give a $1, $3 or $5 donation upon ordering. The Foundation will then pass on funds to JA for disbursement to local Junior Achievement chapters near Marco’s locations. ."

The JA partnership isn’t just a way to give back to the community; its helping to support potential future Marco’s franchisees. Per the release, many of Marco's current franchisees  used JA resources when they were young.

"I remember being a JA kid myself, and for one of our projects we learned how to make a product and business plan that would be successful in our home state of Ohio," said Travis Worley, Marco’s franchisee and area representative, who today continues to volunteer for JA with his wife Jackie. "JA supported and nurtured my entrepreneurial spirit when I was just a kid, and we are extremely lucky to have the opportunity to grant that same support to other local children."

The new partnership follows Marco’s Pizza Foundation’s success fundraising for No Kid Hungry, which resulted $475K donated to the organization that helps to ensure all kids have three meals a day.

Launched in 2022, The Marco’s Pizza Foundation’s mission is to “bring people together to nurture and nourish the communities they call home through four cause pillars - school and education, hunger prevention & nutrition, workforce development, and entrepreneurship.” Marco’s promotes the Foundation’s initiatives in-store as well as across its social media channels.