COUSINS SUBS FUNDS THREE WISCONSIN NONPROFITS

MILWAUKEE (Nov. 29, 2017) – Cousins Subs® Make It Better Foundation has awarded $4,500 in grants to three Wisconsin-based nonprofits—COTS, Inc., Junior Achievement of Wisconsin and Milwaukee Women’s Center.

A $1,000 grant was awarded to Milwaukee Women’s Center to provide innovative, culturally competent holistic care that will empower men, women and children to lead safe, independent and healthy lives. This grant will help offset the cost of food provided to approximately 200 women and children in need of emergency shelter each year.

“Survivors of domestic violence and families who are homeless are in crisis, and the support from Cousins Subs’ Make It Better Foundation will help these women and children when they need help the most,” said Andi Elliott, CEO of Milwaukee Women’s Center. “We are so grateful for the Make It Better Foundation’s interest and investment in our emergency shelter services.”

COTS, Inc. was awarded $1,500 for its Hunger Relief program. This grant will help to purchase staple items that COTS, Inc. does not typically receive from local food pantries and donations, such as cooking oil, butter and spices. In addition, the funds will allow COTS, Inc. to offer special events for residents, such as Packers parties complete with game-day food, cook-outs during the summer and holiday meals – a critical component in giving residents fun, healthy replacement activities that do not involve drugs and alcohol.

“We cannot express how much this means to COTS and our residents,” said Lindsey Dalton, development director at COTS, Inc. “This will give us the ability to purchase staple items for our residents that we otherwise wouldn’t be able to offer, provide food for those with special dietary needs, and offer special events.”

A $2,000 grant was also awarded to Junior Achievement of Wisconsin for its JA BizTown program, which will provide critically needed work readiness and financial literacy programming to 50 low-to-moderate-income elementary school students in Milwaukee County. These funds will support program supplies and instruction needed to create an unforgettable, real-life interactive simulation as students take a day-long trip to the JA BizTown learning lab where they run the economy of a small city for the day.

“We are very grateful for the generous support of the Cousins Subs’ Make It Better Foundation,” said Shannon Watry, senior director of development at Junior Achievement of Wisconsin. “Thanks to the Foundation, during their experience at JA BizTown, 50 Milwaukee County students will build vital life skills, discover careers, and learn what it means to be a responsible, engaged citizen.”

Each grant is funded through the Cousins Subs’ Make It Better Foundation, a nonprofit charitable organization established in 2013. The Make It Better Foundation aims to improve the general welfare and quality of life in the communities Cousins Subs serves and addresses three areas of interest that are vital to any community: health and wellness, hunger and youth education. Since its inception, the Make It Better Foundation has awarded more than $250,000 to nonprofit organizations throughout the state of Wisconsin.

“Every day Cousins Subs moves forward with the mindset to make it better for the communities we call home,” said Justin McCoy, director on Cousins Subs Make It Better Foundation board. “By funding statewide nonprofit organizations that align with our Foundation’s three pillars – hunger, youth education and health & wellness – we’re able to conduct our business each day with this mindset, and carry out our legacy of giving.”

Interested nonprofit and community organizations can visit cousinssubs.com/foundation to find out more information on eligibility and how to apply.

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ABOUT COUSINS SUBS

Wisconsin-based Cousins Subs®, a family-owned, fast casual sub shop established in 1972 by Bill Specht and his cousin, is driven by the mission to Believe in Better – both in the quality of food it serves and in the communities it supports. Cousins Subs and its franchisees operate more than 100 sub sandwich shops throughout Wisconsin and Arizona, providing guests with quality deli fresh and made to order grilled subs using only the freshest ingredients on its signature bread baked daily. For more information, visit www.cousinssubs.com. You can also find Cousins Subs on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Cousins Subs

Wisconsin-based Cousins Subs®, a family-owned, fast casual sub shop established in 1972 by Bill Specht and his cousin, is driven by the mission to Believe in Better – both in the quality of food it serves and in the communities it supports. Cousins Subs and its franchisees operate nearly 100 sub sandwich shops throughout Wisconsin and Indiana, providing guests with quality deli fresh and made to order grilled subs using only the freshest ingredients on its signature bread baked daily. For more information, visit cousinssubs.com. You can also find Cousins Subs on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.