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Jersey Mike's raises $218K for Wreaths Across America campaign

October 11, 2012

Wreaths Across America (WAA), a nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, today announced that Jersey Mike's has donated $218,282 to support its mission.

From June 30 through July 29, Jersey Mike's celebrated its third annual "Christmas in July" with a nationwide fundraising and awareness campaign to benefit WAA. Every Jersey Mike's location participated in the campaign, collecting donations from customers

Customers helped raise approximately $100,000, which Jersey Mike's matched. In addition, the company donated $1 for every "like" its fundraising efforts inspired on Facebook to raise and additional $18,282.

The money raised will help WAA lay more than 225,000 wreaths — one for every fallen hero's headstone — at Arlington National Cemetery on National Wreaths Across America Day, scheduled for Dec. 15.

"We can't thank Jersey Mike's enough for this remarkable donation and for its continued support of our mission," said Karen Worcester, executive director, Wreaths Across America. "We are committed to teaching our nation's children about the sacrifices that have been made for our freedom. It's our belief that they make the connection in a significant way when they place a wreath on the headstone of someone who gave his or her life for us."

Last year, with the help of its customers, Jersey Mike's raised $100,000 which helped WAA place 90,000 wreaths at Arlington on National Wreaths Across America Day.

"A big 'thank you' to our customers and employees who helped us exceed our goal of raising $200,000 for Wreaths Across America during this year's Christmas in July initiative," said Peter Cancro, Jersey Mike's founder and CEO. "In addition to honoring the memory of the fallen, our youth need to understand the value of freedom in this country and that is part of Wreaths Across America's mission that really strikes a chord with me."

In past years, Cancro and other Jersey Mike's executives have participated in the day's ceremonies and franchise owners from across the nation have attended.

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