Domino’s franchise expands charity

The Domino’s Pizza franchise has expanded its charity to provide financial support to staff facing personal misfortune, grief or tragedy into Melbourne. The fast food franchise, which entered the Melbourne market in July 2004, has donated more than $125,000 to staff since 1997 through its charitable trust, the Domino’s Pizza Partners Foundation, which until now has run nationally except for Victoria.

The pizza franchise managing director, Don Meij, says the Partners Foundation will be able to help members of its 350 staff across Melbourne as the company expands to open 20 stores in the city before the end of this year.“ We wanted to set up a charitable trust that would be funded by our staff and go towards helping our staff in times of need. As we enter Victoria and the Melbourne market we are extending the Partners Foundation here as well,” Meij says.

In the past the Partners Foundation has helped a Canberra family after their home was burnt down during bushfires and donated to the NSW Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases for research into meningococcal meningitis after a staff member died from the disease.

“The Foundation has also modified an employee’s car so he could drive again after a debilitating car accident, and provided financial support to a staff member whose baby was born 17 weeks premature,” Meij adds.

He believes that as the company grows to open its target of 85 stores within three years in Melbourne, the Partners Foundation will become increasingly important.