Guests Invited to “Stuff” a Parked School Bus with Classroom Supplies and Cash Donations to Support Local Neighborhood Schools

(PRUnderground) August 5th, 2024

Doherty-owned Applebee’s restaurants in New Jersey, Staten Island, and Long Island, N.Y. announced today that they have launched their annual Stuff The Bus school supply drives to benefit local neighborhood classrooms.

Each year, participating Doherty-owned Applebee’s locations in New Jersey and New York park a school bus outside their restaurants and collect as many school supplies and cash donations from guests and community members as possible.

All funds and donated items are loaded into the parked school bus and sent directly to area schools or partner organizations that support those classrooms.

“Supporting the communities we serve is an important part of our business mission,” said Tim Doherty, President of Doherty Enterprises, and local owner of the participating Applebee’s restaurants. “Every year our Stuff the Bus Drives help local schools equip their students with the tools they’ll need to be tomorrow’s leaders. We invite everyone to load a bag full of school supplies, leave it with our team members, and then enjoy a terrific family lunch or dinner at Applebee’s.”

The following Doherty-owned Applebee’s restaurants are participating in this year‘s summer fundraiser – which last year raised more than $30,000:

In addition to collecting much-needed classroom supplies, these Doherty-owned Applebee’s restaurants also host fundraisers with partner organizations like the Salvation Army and United Way that also support local school children with their programs.

About Applebee’s®

As one of the world’s largest casual dining brands, Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar serves as America’s kitchen table, offering guests a lively dining experience that combines simple, craveable American fare with classic drinks and local drafts. Applebee’s makes it easy for family and friends to connect with one another, whether it’s in a dining room or in the comfort of a living room, Eatin’ Good in the Neighborhood is a familiar and affordable escape from the everyday. Applebee’s restaurants are owned and operated by entrepreneurs dedicated to more than serving great food, but also building up the communities that we call home. From raising money for local charities to hosting community fundraisers, Applebee’s is always Doin’ Good in the Neighborhood®. Applebee’s franchise operations consisted of 1,636 Applebee’s restaurants in the United States, two U.S. territories and 12 countries outside the United States as of March 31, 2024. This number does not include one domestic Applebee’s ghost kitchens (small kitchens with no store-front presence, used to fill off-premise orders) and 11 Applebee’s international ghost kitchens. Applebee’s is franchised by subsidiaries of Dine Brands Global Inc. [NYSE: DIN], which is one of the world’s largest full-service restaurant companies.

About Doherty Enterprises, Inc.

Established in 1985, Doherty Enterprises owns and operates more than 160 restaurants in New York and New Jersey, including five restaurant concepts: Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, Panera Bread, Chevys Fresh Mex and its own concepts, The Shannon Rose Irish Pub and Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas. In addition, Doherty Enterprises is also a franchisee of Sola Salon Studios with 13 locations in Staten Island and New Jersey.

Doherty Enterprises is ranked 25th in Top 200 Franchisees in the United States by Restaurant Finance Monitor, is recognized as the 77th largest Foodservice revenue company in the United States by Nation’s Restaurant News, the 73rd largest privately held business in the New York Metro area by Crain’s Business, and 34th largest privately held company in New Jersey by NJBIZ.

The Doherty vision is to be the “Best Food Service Company in the Communities We Serve” and its mission is to “Wow Every Guest Every Time, Wow our People, Wow Our Communities and Wow Our Suppliers.” Doherty Enterprises has also been lending a helping hand to team members and their immediate families when financially burdened through the WOW a Friend Foundation. To date, the foundation has assisted more than 4,00 people and donated over $5.3 million directly back to those in need. (www.DohertyInc.com).

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Original Press Release.