The Donation was Made Possible Thanks to the GSF Foundation Chicago Committee’s Partnership with Local McDonald’s Owner/Operators
The GSF Foundation kicked off 2017 with the largest single Best Foot Forward program donation of brand new shoes to almost 1,000 children in need and brought joy throughout Chicago at four events held on January 30 and 31. Through the GSF Foundation, GSF Chicago associates partnered with Chicago McDonald’s Owner/Operators, John and Carmen De Carrier, to invest in brand new pairs of shoes for Chicagoland kids who were in need of essential footwear. The De Carriers also connected our local GSFF Committee with Hogar del Niño, Casa Central, Erie Neighborhood House, and Back of the Yards Neighborhood Organization, local community-based organizations that helped to identify the kids who needed shoes. Special thanks to GSF Associates who gave their time to hand out shoes at the events: Andre Ford, Charley Huggett, Dan Kerrigan, Elizabeth Orozco, Frank Cano, George Kouzoukas, Jason Jacobs, Jay Lee, Jesse Wisch, Jorge Valladares, Linda Velasquez, Mary Kay Gustafson, Nick Franek and Peter Peluso.
John and Carmen De Carrier are the proud Owner/Operators of 13 McDonald’s restaurants in the Chicagoland area including five at O’Hare Airport. They started their careers as crew-members working behind the counters at McDonald’s and progressed forward to working at the corporate offices where they met and then became Independent Owner/Operators. Having grown up and attended school in Chicago, they believe they have a responsibility to work together with the community and the government to achieve the kind of economic and educational growth that benefits all. As such, they both work with organizations that help the communities they serve. John is on the Board of Directors of Easter Seals and Erie Neighborhood House, and Carmen is on the Board of Directors of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana.
“We are so thrilled to team up with our valued partners, John and Carmen De Carrier, to help these children in need,” says Anna Lisa Lukes, director of corporate social responsibility and executive director of the GSF Foundation. “This largest single Best Foot Forward program donation was made possible by our new partnership with the Two Ten Footwear Foundation, and it is part of our objective to reach more children nationwide through our customer, community and non-profit partnerships. We greatly appreciate the De Carriers for their leadership, generosity and charitable spirit and are thankful for the opportunity to serve with them.”
To see event photos, click here.
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