Kindness Rocks encourages Lou Malnati’s team members to continue our tradition of generosity; to build team unity; show care for one another; and to serve the communities in which we live and work.
In 2014, Meagan Sunde of our Lakewood restaurant passed away from breast cancer. One of her favorite sayings was, “Kindness Rocks!” which perfectly embodies her and how she reflected the Lou Malnati’s mission of kindness. When Meagan was a server, DM Mark Valletti, began at the Lakewood store as a newly hired manager. “Even on her days off she would call the store to check in on me,” Valletti said, “Even when she was suffering from cancer, she was worried about me. That shows how special she was.” Meagan’s kindness knew no bounds, her light shone bright even in the darkest of times.
The Kindness Rocks Program was created to continue to carry Meagan’s torch of generosity and honors the heartfelt giving and tradition of philanthropy that Lou and Jean Malnati established in 1971. Not only does the initiative allow Lou’s team members to give back to their communities, but it brings us closer together as well. “Kindness Rocks events give us all an opportunity to come together and connect through giving back,” Valletti said, “It’s an awesome way to build and strengthen relationships with one another”.
There are several ways the Kindness Rocks initiative is implemented:
- Malnati Match: When teams band together to support a team member in need, Malanti’s will match the amount raised up to $2000.
- Community Involvement: When store employees serve or volunteer together in their community, Lou Malnati’s will donate $10 for each volunteer hour toward that charity or organization.
- Tradition of Generosity: Over our 51 year history, we’ve kept the Lou and Jean’s spirit of generosity alive through events like the Cancer Research Benefit and our Thanksgiving food basket drive, and by providing sponsorships for World Vision and many local community organizations and youth programs. Our Scholar Dollars scholarship program aim to help fund team members college education.
Some examples of our team’s incredible efforts are:
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Lou Malnati’s Kindness Rocks Feeds the Front Lines: We started a GoFundMe fundraiser to raise money to feed front line employees, and for every dollar raised, Lou Malnati’s provided twice the value in food to front line workers. Through the generosity of our customers, we raised $47,497, and provided meals to more than 13,000 front line workers, including deliveries to more than 870 hospitals and health care facilities!
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2021 Thanksgiving Basket Drive: For over 8 years, members of our Malnati family gathered at the Wheeling Warehouse to assemble more than 1,200 Thanksgiving food baskets for Chicagoland families in need.
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Annual Lou Malnati’s Cancer Research Benefit: For the past 52 years, Lou Malnati’s has held an annual benefit to raise dollars for the community good. In the past 10 years, The Lou Malnati’s Cancer Research Benefit has raised more than $4 million to benefit organizations who are dedicated to finding a cure for cancer, including the Lou and Jean Malnati Brain Tumor Institute. Proceeds from the benefit will fund cancer research and education programs at The Northwestern Medicine Lou and Jean Malnati Brain Tumor Institute of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, and Gilda’s Club of Chicago.
To honor those who actively participate in the Kindness Rocks Program, we award a Kindness Rocks Award to the highest achieving store. This award is presented to the store that best exemplifies our tradition of generosity and serving the communities in which we live and work.
An actual “scorecard” is used to calculate the winning store. Below are the criteria.
- Lou Malnati’s Cancer Research Benefit Circles: Dollars raised
- Fundraising Programs: Volume of give back fundraisers booked and executed
- Community Participation: Number of grassroots marketing events
- Kindness Rocks Volunteer Event Participation: Plan and participate in an event
We challenge you to get involved in the Kindness Rocks Program! It’s a great way to give back, build relationships, personify the tradition of generosity started by Lou and Jean Malnati, and shine the light that Meagan Sunde left on us all. There truly is nothing better than giving back to others, as Meagan said, kindness really does rock!
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