As we all struggle with responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the franchise industry have the responsibility to give where and when we can. Spreading positivity during these unprecedented times has become more important than ever. As an industry, we need to inspire our franchisees to give back to move communities forward. Big or small, the combined local contributions of franchising create a significant impact in our communities, touching the lives of our customers and neighbors.
Unite Around A Common Cause
For more than a decade, I’ve been a part of the franchising and senior care industries. I pioneered the first senior placement and referral franchise and built our brand to be synonymous with compassion and caring. I believe it’s vitally important to have a way that your franchise system can unite around a common cause and give back.
With COVID-19, our clients — seniors — are one of the most vulnerable to the disease. Isolated from their loved ones, they need to be positively engaged and supported during these scary and uncertain times. My company, Assisted Living Locators, rallied around this cause and announced a national partnership with Love For The Elderly, a non-profit organization that mails handwritten letters to seniors. We worked together to encourage people to write “Letters of Love” to uplift seniors during the pandemic. We mobilized our 130 franchisees nationwide to reach out to thousands of families in their communities asking for handwritten letters to mail to senior facilities.
It takes time and effort, but for franchisors who want to align themselves with a particular cause, it can be a highly rewarding practice. If you have a passion for a cause that integrates with your brand as ours does, do it! Whether large or small, any charitable effort that your brand can make in the communities you serve will have an impact.
Make Giving Part Of Your Company Culture
Through my work with Assisted Living Locators, I’ve seen how philanthropic outreach and empowering your franchisees to give back can bring success. At Assisted Living Locators, giving back to our communities is part of our company culture and an integral part of our brand.
Recognizing that the senior care industry draws franchisees that are compassionate, our Assisted Living Locators senior care advisors contribute to a variety of charitable community efforts based on inspiring support and improving quality of life. Whatever your industry, a company culture that thrives on the importance of giving back has many benefits and will ultimately generate a positive image, strong visibility and profitable business.
Franchise organizations are very different from any other company structure because individual owners serve their respective communities under one common brand. This unique structure puts boots on the ground like no other business model. Giving back through the franchise system can make a significant positive impact in not one, but many communities! As a member of a franchise organization, you have the opportunity to create or participate in initiatives and programs to help others in your own area. The cause should be meaningful and support the franchisee’s wishes and company values. When applicable, promote the cause nationally and have franchisees implement the program on a local level to help impact their communities.
Franchisees Can Be A Force Of Good In Their Communities
Give your franchisees the power to make a difference. Encourage them to bring forth organizations and causes they want to support in their community and help them execute a plan.
Our franchisees have been a tremendous force of good in their communities, giving to a variety of local causes across the country. Here’s some of the inspiring ways our Assisted Living Locators Senior Care Advisors are making a local connection.
