Happy Joe’s Gives Back with Charity of the Month Initiative

Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream will spotlight a different local nonprofit each month, giving franchisees a consistent way to support causes tied to families and their own communities.

Read the original at Franchising.com
Happy Joe’s Gives Back with Charity of the Month Initiative

TL;DR

Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream launches a Charity of the Month initiative, spotlighting a different local nonprofit each month to support causes tied to families and communities. The program provides a framework for community involvement across the system, focusing on organizations that serve children, families, and vulnerable members of the community.

Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream will spotlight a different local nonprofit each month, giving franchisees a consistent way to support causes tied to families and their own communities.

The program provides a simple framework for community involvement across the system and focuses on organizations that serve children, families and vulnerable members of the community. It also creates consistent stories for guests who want their pizza nights to mean something more.

“Our restaurants are part of their communities, and this program gives teams a clear way to show up month after month,” said Tom Sacco, CEO, President and Chief Happiness Officer of Happy Joe’s. “It keeps our focus where it belongs — on families and the people who need support close to home.”

The 2026 Charity of the Month schedule includes:

  • January – Local Women’s Shelter or Advocacy Center Family Resources – Offers counseling, housing support and prevention programs for families in need.

  • February – Local Child Abuse Charity Melody of Hope Advocacy Center – Provides forensic interviews, therapy and family services for child abuse victims.

  • March – Local Senior Center CASI – Serves adults with disabilities through employment training, housing and daily support programs.

  • April – Local Children’s Therapy Focused Center Children’s Therapy Center of the Quad Cities – Offers pediatric therapy services to help children improve mobility and communication.

  • May – Local Homeless Shelter Humility of Mary Shelter – Provides emergency shelter and long-term housing assistance for women and children.

  • June – Local Humane Society Scott County Humane Society – Promotes animal welfare through rescue, adoption and education programs.

  • July – Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity – Expands safe homeownership opportunities for families in need.

  • August – Salvation Army; Salvation Army Stuff the Bus – Supports classroom readiness through community donation drives.

  • September – Local Junior Achievement Junior Achievement of the Heartland – Provides youth education programs focused on work readiness and economics.

  • October – Local Food Bank River Bend Food Bank – Supplies food to partner pantries across eastern Iowa and western Illinois.

  • November – Toys for Tots Toys for Tots – Ensures children in need receive gifts during winter holidays.

  • December – Happy Joe’s Kids Foundation Happy Joe’s Kids Foundation – Supports youth-focused initiatives through community fundraising.

By pairing its franchise partners with local charities (or non-profits), the program strengthens neighborhood ties while keeping the brand’s philanthropic focus consistent systemwide. Franchisees are encouraged to participate in ways that fit their communities, from in-store fundraising to awareness campaigns and donation drives.

In this story

This story was originally published in Franchising.com on February 17, 2026. Burnaze summarizes and links to the original reporting.

Read the full story at Franchising.com

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