Dunkin' Brands Community Foundation Awards $700,000 in grants to emergency response organizations

The Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation announces more than $700,000 in grants to help three emergency response organizations better serve their communities, especially in times of crisis.

The grants include nearly $400,000 to the National Volunteer Fire Council, $300,000 to America’s Second Harvest—the nation’s food-bank network—and $25,000 to the Leary Firefighters Foundation. The grants will help these organizations improve preparedness and response by providing the resources needed to expand training, build and improve infrastructure and raise public awareness about their respective missions.

The new grants mark the second round of giving for the 2-year-old Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation, which includes previous grants to America’s Second Harvest and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation has now contributed more than $1.2 million to emergency response organizations. Additionally, Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins franchisees nationwide have supported a variety of emergency response organizations with cash grants, hero recognition events, employee volunteer programs, blood drives and other initiatives.

The Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation was created in partnership with the franchise owners of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins to support emergency response organizations before a crisis occurs.

The Foundation’s goal is to help ensure that those heroes we depend on during a disaster have the training, equipment and resources they need to rise to any occasion.

“The Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation exists to serve an often overlooked goal—supporting emergency responders before a crisis arises,” said Stephan Shelton, chairman of the Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation and a franchisee of both Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins. “These grants will greatly assist three important organizations to build the talent and infrastructure they need to support our communities when they need them the most.”

About The America’s Second Harvest Grant
The Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation will provide $289,000 to further develop the emergency response efforts of America’s Second Harvest, the largest network of food banks in the nation. The grant will help train and create incident command system teams that are poised to respond in the wake of disaster.

In addition, the grants will go to building emergency response infrastructure, including a refrigerated box trailer that the organization can use to provide food and supplies to affected communities.

The grant builds on the success of a similar $250,000 grant to America’s Second Harvest in 2007.

About The Leary Firefighters Foundation Grant
The Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation pledged $25,000 to the Leary Firefighters Foundation to help build a state-of-the-art high-rise simulator at the New York Fire Department’s training facility on Randall’s Island. The simulator will provide firefighters with a facility in which to train in the rescue techniques needed to help the 85 percent of New Yorkers who enter at least one high-rise each day.

The Leary Firefighters Foundation provides resources for fire departments so that they can obtain the best available equipment, technology and training.

About The National Volunteer Fire Council
The Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation will contribute $389,000 to the National Volunteer Fire Council to help build and expand the organization’s National Junior Firefighter Program.

The program works to increase interest from America’s youth by introducing them to the excitement of the fire and emergency service community. The grant from the Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation will help the organization expand its communications efforts so it can more effectively share its message with young people. For more information about the organization, visit www.nvfc.org.

About The Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation
The Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation brings together a wide network of stakeholders, including our Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins franchisees, crewmembers and employees, to support the service and leadership of emergency response organizations—especially in times of crisis.

The Foundation supports emergency responders by providing financial assistance, building capacity, developing partnerships, encouraging volunteerism and honoring local heroes. To learn more about the Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation please visit www.dunkinbrands.com/foundation.