--- title: "Aroma Joe's Announces AJ's Cares Foundation" url: https://burnaze.com/article/5136c69e-9acb-46a1-913f-758b7d18d4af source: "Franchising.com" original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20260423_aroma_joes_announces_ajs_cares_foundation.html category: "Coffee & tea" industry: "Restaurants" segment: "Coffee & tea" published: 2026-04-23T12:00:00.000Z modified: 2026-11-01T22:32:28.465Z image: https://imgs.franchising.com/brands/social/aromajoes.jpg --- # Aroma Joe's Announces AJ's Cares Foundation **TL;DR:** Aroma Joe's has announced that its AJ's Cares Foundation has been officially approved as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, allowing it to further its mission of positively impacting local communities. The foundation focuses on several key pillars, including supporting children's growth, fighting childhood hunger, and caring for the environment. *originally published in Franchising.com on 2026-04-23. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20260423_aroma_joes_announces_ajs_cares_foundation.html).* ## Story SCARBOROUGH, ME – Aroma Joe's, a leading handcrafted beverage franchise, is excited to announce that its AJ’s Cares Foundation has been officially approved as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. This new status will allow the foundation to further its mission of positively impacting local communities. The AJ's Cares Foundation focuses on several key pillars to achieve its mission and donates to organizations that align with these pillars: - **Supporting Children's Growth**: Help children grow up healthy, safe, and prepared for the future through after-school programs, mentorship, and other services. They also work to fulfill special wishes for children facing serious challenges, creating moments of joy through events, gifts, or special experiences. Examples include supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help grant wishes to local children and raising money for kids in local communities who are fighting cancer, such as the Cole Strong campaign in Swansea, Mass., which raised over $2500. - **Fighting Childhood Hunger**: Ensuring children and their families have reliable access to nutritious food through initiatives like food drives and meal programs. Stores have conducted food drives to donate to nonprofits located near them. - **Creating Educational Opportunities**: Provide baristas and children in the community with the tools and support needed to succeed in school and higher education. Examples include tutoring, scholarships, and providing school supplies. - **Serving Veterans and Their Families**: Working closely with the Travis Mills Foundation to address basic needs, improving their quality of life, and honoring their service. This includes providing access to meals, housing assistance, and mental health support. Also supports The Dan Healy Foundation Memorial 5K each year in its founding state of New Hampshire. - **Caring for the Environment**: Through community cleanups, recycling programs, and garden projects, the foundation teaches simple ways to protect the outdoors and keep communities clean. Examples include volunteering for the Clean River Project in Methuen, Mass., pulling multiple items from the river including two TVs, a mattress, picnic tables and more, and cleaning up the Marie Strese Conservation Area in Mansfield, Mass. Funds are primarily raised through local franchisees hosting community donation days in which a percentage of sales goes to a specific organization that supports one of the following pillars, as well as through private donations, community events and sales from merchandise. Later this year, point-of-purchase campaigns will launch for Aroma Joe’s customers to support the foundation by donating funds when they buy their daily beverages. "We are incredibly proud to announce the AJ's Cares Foundation's recognition as a 501(c)(3) organization," said Dave Tucci, President of Aroma Joe's. "This is the natural next step in furthering the Aroma Joe's mission, and we look forward to the foundation positively impacting people throughout Aroma Joe's growing footprint and beyond." Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Scarborough, Maine with 134 locations across Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Florida, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York. Aroma Joe's was named a Top-10 drive-thru coffee spot in the US by USA Today for two years in a row. Aroma Joe’s is a local destination for handcrafted coffee and espresso drinks, unique infused blends, signature AJs RUSH® Energy Drinks and all-day food offerings served in a friendly and upbeat environment. ## Entities - Franchising.com (publication) - QSR (sector) - community support (topic) - franchise philanthropy (topic) - Make-A-Wish (company) - Aroma Joe's (company) - non-profit foundation (topic) - Dave Tucci (person) - 501(c)(3) status (topic) - AJ's Cares Foundation (company) - Travis Mills Foundation (company) - The Dan Healy Foundation (company) --- Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20260423_aroma_joes_announces_ajs_cares_foundation.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/5136c69e-9acb-46a1-913f-758b7d18d4af).