ORLANDO Fla. The 10-unit Earl of Sandwich chain is teaming up with the National Urban League to promote franchise stores.
The agreement awards the Urban League two franchise stores in exchange for promoting other Earl of Sandwich locations. "It's all part of the mission of giving back to the community," said Josh Kern, the chain's chief marketing officer.
The "township-owned" restaurants' proceeds will go to help support Urban League programs.
Sidney Green, the former basketball star and now Earl of Sandwich's director of corporate development, will work with the Urban League to encourage professional athletes to develop stores.
"This partnership is truly unique and supports our commitment to helping people who may not have the means or opportunity to start a business," said Michael Grodi, president and chief executive of Earl of Sandwich, which is based here.
E. Lance McCarthy, president of the Metropolitan Orlando Urban League, said: "This beneficial relationship should serve as a new model for the nationwide advancement of urban development, minority business ownership and job-training practices."
The Urban League will assume ownership of the two "community" franchises at a press conference in Orlando that is scheduled for June.
The Urban League was founded in 1910 to promote African-Americans in the economic and social mainstream.
Earl of Sandwich, which started in 2004 at Downtown Disney at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, has 10 stores in California, Florida, Indiana and Texas. Kern said openings are scheduled in the next few months in Las Vegas, Nev., and Michigan.
