In my last entry I spoke about the Detroit area Edible Arrangements franchisees who are passionately involved with charitable causes in their communities. This is not an anomaly. So many of our franchise owners across the country and world make community involvement and support a priority. It’s who they are –who we are –and we are proud to show that Edible Cares.
I know a while ago I briefly mentioned our amazing franchisees in Massachusetts and their yearly support for a very important cause –the fight to find a cure for multiple sclerosis. However, I really want to single out one franchisee in particular who is leading the effort in Massachusetts as the disease is very personal for him. Nick D’Alleva, co-owner of three Edible Arrangements stores (Beverly, Lynn and Peabody, MA) knows personally the effects MS has on loved ones. Nick’s brother-in-law Carl, Carl’s mother Carmella and Carl’s daughter (Nick’s niece) Melissa have MS, and the entire family has been very active in raising awareness and money to find a cure for MS. In 2006, Carl’s brother Kevin created a team, The Lombardi Party, a family movement in itself, to (as their website states –http://www.lombardiparty.org/) “stop MS, restore what’s been lost, and end MS forever.”
Seeing three generations of family members stricken by this debilitating disease, Nick became extremely active in the family’s mission to create a community, and national, effort to bring people together to help the cause. Nick rallied his neighboring Massachusetts Edible Arrangements franchisees who, every March (March is MS Awareness month), donate a portion of the sales of the Orange Blossom® arrangement to the National MS Society. Last year, Nick and the Massachusetts franchisees raised $10,000. Wow!
However, Nick’s dedication to promoting awareness and volunteerism, and raising funds for MS, goes much further. One example –he hits the pavement. Last week Nick and his family, the Lombardi Party, and hundreds of others, walked 50 miles over 3 three days in Cape Cod for the MS Challenge Walk, one of ten walking event destinations held throughout the country for MS.
To Nick, the Massachusetts franchisees, and all our Edible Arrangements franchisees who daily support so many charitable organizations and causes, I’m so impressed with your passionate contributions to your communities. I am confident, one franchisee at a time, one person at a time, that we and others working together can make a difference and have a tremendous, positive impact in the lives of others. Thank you for all you do!
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