Feeding Hope, One Sub at a Time

In a time when good news feels like a rare commodity, one local effort cut through the noise with clarity and purpose—reminding us all that generosity, when paired with mission, can change lives.

This March, Jersey Mike’s Subs once again turned their restaurants into fundraising engines during their national Month of Giving campaign. And in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, the results weren’t just impressive—they were historic. On March 26, 2025, during the annual Day of Giving, local Jersey Mike’s locations raised a record-breaking $491,908 for CancerFree KIDS, a nonprofit that’s quietly but powerfully shaping the future of pediatric cancer research.

Let’s pause for a moment and absorb that: nearly half a million dollars in one day, all from people ordering their favorite subs—knowing that 100% of every dollar spent would go directly to this cause. That’s more than charity. That’s a full community in motion.

It’s also a major jump from previous years: $280,000 in 2024, $278,000 in 2023. In total, the partnership between CancerFree KIDS and Jersey Mike’s has now generated close to $2 million since 2015—a number that becomes even more staggering when you consider what that money has done.

Founded in Loveland, Ohio, CancerFree KIDS exists to do something remarkably specific and incredibly important: fund early-stage, high-risk pediatric cancer research. These are the kinds of research proposals that often go unfunded by larger institutions because they’re too new, too experimental, or don’t yet have enough data behind them. But they’re also where some of the most game-changing discoveries begin.

Why is this necessary? Because pediatric cancer remains critically underfunded. Only about 4% of federal cancer research funding goes toward childhood cancers, and many of the treatments used on kids were initially designed for adults—leaving young bodies to face unnecessary side effects, long-term damage, or outdated protocols. CancerFree KIDS helps rewrite that narrative by giving researchers the seed money they need to pursue bold, kid-focused science that can save lives.

And the results speak volumes. Thanks to grants funded through the Jersey Mike’s campaign:

• Eight research grants have been launched in honor of Jersey Mike’s.

• Those projects have led to over $12.9 million in follow-up funding from other major institutions.

• The work has resulted in five published scientific papers—critical pieces of the research puzzle.

• And perhaps most impressively, this funding directly contributed to the development of a new FDA-approved drug for neurofibromatosis, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer.

This is the kind of long-term, behind-the-scenes impact that doesn’t always get headlines—but it absolutely changes lives.

Jersey Mike’s Month of Giving is a national initiative involving over 2,500 stores across the U.S., each choosing local charities to support. In some cities, that might be food banks or youth programs. In Big Rapids, Michigan, for instance, Jersey Mike’s teamed up with Angels of Action to combat childhood hunger.

But here in Greater Cincinnati, for the past ten years, the charity of choice has been CancerFree KIDS. And it’s not a surface-level partnership. From in-store promotions to social media spotlights to in-person check presentations, Jersey Mike’s and CancerFree KIDS have built a collaboration rooted in shared values: community, courage, and the belief that kids deserve better than cancer.

In 2025, that partnership was supercharged with a surprise: Jersey Mike’s founder and CEO Peter Cancro kicked off the month with a $100,000 personal donation to CancerFree KIDS. It was a strong signal that this campaign isn’t just a feel-good marketing tool—it’s a core part of the company’s DNA.

It’s easy to scroll past a fundraiser post or tune out yet another donation ask. But this one’s different. Pediatric cancer research doesn’t have a surplus of options. Organizations like CancerFree KIDS fill a critical gap. They make the kind of research possible that couldn’t exist without them. And when businesses like Jersey Mike’s step up—not just with dollars, but with awareness and advocacy—they help ensure that gap doesn’t go unnoticed or unfilled.

This year, Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky showed up in force. Every sandwich, every chip, every cookie purchased on March 26 made a statement: our kids are worth the fight. And that money will now go on to support the researchers, the labs, and the breakthroughs that just might create tomorrow’s cures.

So next time you’re craving lunch, remember—at Jersey Mike’s, it’s not just about what’s on the menu. It’s about what that meal can mean.

Because this year, a sandwich helped fund science that could save lives.

And that’s the kind of good news we all need.