Our Initiatives
THE FOLDED FLAG FOUNDATION
We support Gold Star families through our relationship with The Folded Flag Foundation, a nonprofit providing educational scholarships and grants to the families of our country’s fallen heroes.
The Folded Flag Foundation is a nation-wide organization that supports the spouses and children of the U.S. military personnel who have died as a result of hostile action or in an accident related to U.S. combat operations since September 11, 2001. As a result of corporate sponsorships, 100% of every dollar donated to Folded Flag goes to the Gold Star families with no administrative costs. In 2022, we kicked off our first annual fundraiser, and we have since raised over $575k.
DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE & THE JIMMY FUND
Since 1948, the Jimmy Fund has united communities to support Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s mission of providing compassionate care and advancing groundbreaking research for children and adults. At The Nines, we are proud to join this incredible community of supporters by fundraising to help defy cancer and make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients in New England and around the world.
In 2006, our team suffered a profound loss when we lost David Lanzoni, beloved friend and colleague, after a courageous battle with cancer. To honor his memory, one of our own laced up his running shoes and ran the Falmouth Road Race, raising $5,000 for Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund. That single act of heart and hustle sparked the creation of Team Lanzoni.
What started as one person’s tribute quickly grew into a company-wide movement. Over the years, our fundraising efforts have expanded beyond the Falmouth Road Race to include in-restaurant campaigns each summer, as well as events like the Pan-Mass Challenge, mini-golf tournaments, bake sales, and opportunity drawings. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our guests and the dedication of our team, we have raised over $7 million to date for Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund.
In 2024, we renamed our team to Team Bergeron in memory of our dear friend and colleague, Michael Bergeron, who also lost his battle with cancer. We remain steadfast in this fight, carrying on the tradition of hope and support that began with David. The spirit of both Dave and Mike lives on in every dollar we raise, as we continue to work together to defy cancer and make a lasting impact.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB
The Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub has a company-wide commitment and “A Passion to Serve” in the communities in which it does business, which means that team members give back to those less fortunate in the community. Ninety Nine Restaurants broadened its community involvement by developing a relationship at the local level with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the oldest and largest organization that has a primary mission of service to youth.
For over 25 years, the Ninety Nine has shown its commitment to the Boys & Girls Club through a number of initiatives. October is Boys & Girls Club Month at the Ninety Nine and over the years with the help of our Team Members and the generosity of our Guests, we’ve raised over $6.2 million during Boys & Girls Club Month.
In addition to Boys & Girls Club Month, the Ninety Nine’s commitment to the Boys & Girls Clubs continues throughout the year. Each Ninety Nine Restaurants has a relationship with its local Boys & Girls Club and donates food, funds and/or team members’ time to help its local chapter. In addition to its work with the Boys & Girls Clubs, the Ninety Nine Restaurants’ commitment to local communities is also exemplified in its work with The Pine Street Inn and public school systems across the Northeast.
PINE STREET INN
The Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub’s giving relationship with the Pine Street Inn, New England’s largest homeless shelter, began in 1981 when founder Charlie Doe entered the Inn eager to give something back to the community that helped him build his restaurant into a successful chain. To this day, team members from various locations volunteer to travel to the Pine Street Inn on the second Tuesday of every month to prepare and serve restaurant-style dinners for more than 1,000 guests. This calculates to more than 500,000 meals over the past 40 years.
In 1990, with the help of Ninety Nine Restaurants, the Pine Street Inn launched its Food Services Job Training Program to help homeless men and women acquire the skills and self confidence to move back into the community. The success of this program is due in large part to the partnership with Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub.
In December 1996, the Pine Street Inn and Ninety Nine Restaurants dedicated a new center for the Job Training & Food Services Program in Boston, Massachusetts. The two-story, 14,000-square foot facility links the Inn’s men’s and women’s units and houses a large kitchen, food services training center, administrative offices, and a culinary garden. Ninety Nine played a significant role in the design and development of the center. They designed a cost-effective and efficient kitchen and worked to secure donated kitchen equipment and supplies. This new structure tripled the enrollment capacity for the Food Services Job Training Program.
Lyndia Downie, President and Executive Director of the Pine Street Inn, continually expresses her gratitude to the Ninety Nine Restaurants. “They’ve set the bar so high for anybody else. And it’s not just about money, but about how they can help us. They helped build us a state-of-the-art kitchen for training.” The Ninety Nine Restaurants has become the largest corporate contributor to the Pine Street Inn. The Ninety Nine marked the 40th anniversary of its relationship with the Pine Street Inn with a total financial contribution of over $4 million.
