Domino’s Pizza Inc. in Ann Arbor, the largest pizza franchise in the world based on global retail sales, today announced a commitment to raise $100 million over the next 10 years for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Domino’s commitment is the largest in the history of St. Jude, which will name its newest housing facility The Domino’s Village in honor of the effort. The facility, which will be for patient families, will feature 140 fully furnished apartments with one, two, or three bedrooms and will be located on the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital campus in Memphis, Tenn.
Construction planning for the $110 million facility is underway, and it is anticipated to open in the spring of 2023.
Domino’s named St. Jude its national charity partner in 2004 and has since raised more than $68 million for the health system, primarily through the annual St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign. Customers can also round up their order total and donate the change to the health system at dominos.com.
“St. Jude and its Thanks and Giving campaign have become part of the Domino’s culture, and we are proud to commit to the organization for the long term,” says Ritch Allison, CEO of Domino’s. “Everyone at Domino’s is honored to have the opportunity to bring to life a building that will offer community, comfort, and care to patient families at St. Jude. We hope it stands as a physical representation and reminder to all on the St. Jude campus that Domino’s and customers of the brand care, and we will continue to support them.”
The village will offer patients and families convenient access to treatment facilities on campus and serve as a home away from home complete with living, dining, and play spaces.
“Domino’s, in partnership with its employees, franchisees, and customers, is the model of the power of corporate purpose to change the world, and has been since 2004,” says Richard C. Shadyac Jr., president and CEO of the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC), the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
“This new, generous gift is the largest commitment in the history of our organization, and every Domino’s employee, franchisee, and customer should be proud to be part of this selfless act of making the world a better, more compassionate place. The Domino’s Village will provide a home-away-from-home for the thousands of kids and families who come to St. Jude from around the world. They will forever be transformed by the generosity of Domino’s in their greatest time of need.”
St. Jude treats about 8,500 children with cancer, blood disorders, and related life threatening diseases each year from the U.S. and around the world. It also offers an on-site school and other services for patients and families. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food.
Domino’s was founded in 1960 and has more than 17,100 stores in more than 90 markets. It had global retail sales of more than $14.3 billion in 2019, with more than $7 billion in the U.S. and nearly $7.3 billion internationally.
