Jersey Mike’s Partnered With Best Buddies for Campaign

The sandwich chain is accepting customer donations at all locations throughout the month of October.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Philanthropy

Bold vector editorial illustration of a donation box on a counter, representing community charitable fundraising efforts. — Jersey Mike's Subs has partnered with Best Buddies International for an annual October fundraising campaign across its 3,300 locations. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Jersey Mike's Subs has launched its fourth annual fundraising campaign in partnership with Best Buddies International. Customers at all 3,300 locations can donate to the nonprofit by rounding up their purchases to the nearest dollar through October 31.

Why it matters

The initiative supports the mission of Best Buddies to foster inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Jersey Mike's contributes 100% of these tax-deductible donations directly to the organization.

Jersey Mike's operates 3,300 locations across the country that participate in the fundraiser. Best Buddies currently maintains over 4,000 chapters worldwide and serves more than 1.5 million people through its various programs.

The players

Jersey Mike's Subs

This national sandwich chain is headquartered in Tinton Falls and operates over 3,300 restaurant locations.

Best Buddies International

Founded in 1989, this nonprofit organization manages over 4,000 chapters worldwide to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Anthony Kennedy Shriver

He is the founder of Best Buddies International, having established the organization in 1989 to promote social inclusion.

The details

Customers can contribute to the cause at store registers, through the Jersey Mike's website, or via the company's mobile app. Beyond fundraising, the chain implements specific internal hiring, candidate-matching, and training practices to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Best Buddies International was founded in 1989.
Jersey Mike's raised $4.3 million for the group in 2024.
The 2026 fundraising campaign began on October 1, 2026.
The 2026 fundraising campaign ends on October 31, 2026.

Market Landscape

This campaign follows the pattern of success established by the 2024 Jersey Mike's $4.3 million fundraising drive. The partnership reflects a broader trend of fast-casual chains leveraging their massive physical footprints to anchor large-scale social impact initiatives.

Customers can participate by choosing to round up their total bill to the next dollar at any Jersey Mike's location. These contributions are tax-deductible and go directly toward supporting programs for individuals with disabilities.

The takeaway

Consumers can support inclusive employment by opting to round up their lunch receipts through the end of October. These small recurring donations have historically enabled the organization to raise millions of dollars for disability services annually.