400-Unit Molly Maid Franchise Rallies Behind Unprecedented Domestic Violence Awareness Campaign
Franchisees Embrace Education Campaign and Community Fundraising for Ms. Molly Foundation
ANN ARBOR, MI - Molly Maid and its 400-plus franchises across the nation announced a vigorous campaign to raise an unprecedented $150,000 for the Ms. Molly Foundation in 2008, representing a 50 percent increase over last year to continue supporting hundreds of local shelters and safe houses across America, as well as provide refuge and personal care items to victims of domestic violence.
Ms. Molly Foundation has raised more than $600,000 since its inception in 1996. With 100 percent franchisee participation expected in 2008, Molly Maid's goal is to contribute to 120 domestic violence shelters throughout the nation.
"Molly Maid takes great pride in giving back to the communities we serve. For more than 10 years, our extraordinary franchisees have devoted their fundraising efforts to supporting the people and programs that help those who fall victim to one of America's most tragic and unreported crimes," said Ms. Molly Foundation co-chair Danessa Itaya. "As we have cleaned 17 million households around the world, we're ideally positioned for mass public education to not only help prevent domestic violence, but to provide support for its unfortunate victims."
This year's campaign will extend beyond the official designated National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, which is when Molly Maid franchises donate a portion of the service fee from every home cleaned to shelters and safe houses. At Molly Maid's annual convention earlier this year, franchisees were inspired to follow the lead of franchise owners like David and Mary Dickinson of North Carolina, who for the past several years have held "Silent (No More!) Auctions" to benefit local family violence prevention agencies, or by Ms. Molly Foundation's 2007 "Making a Difference Award" winner Bill Foley of Tennessee, who raised funds by selling Ms. Molly Foundation bracelets. With support from other local organizations, the Dickinsons raised a whopping $26,000 at their February 2008 auction in Orange County, North Carolina.
"From car washes and bake sales to volunteering and cleaning shelters, our franchisees go the extra mile for this worthwhile cause," Dickinson said. "We realize that as business owners, we have an incredible responsibility to give back to our communities, and we take that task very seriously. It's part of the Molly Maid culture."
About Molly Maid
Molly Maid, based in Ann Arbor, MI, is one of three service companies under Service Brands International. The residential cleaning franchise, ranked number one in the United States, was founded in 1979. Currently, more than 412 Molly Maid franchise owners operate in the United States alone, with nearly 300 more throughout Canada, Japan, England, Portugal and Bermuda. Molly Maid has been the recipient of numerous awards for entrepreneurialism, software innovation and humanitarian causes, including the Ms. Molly Foundation, which collects money and goods for safe houses and shelters for victims of domestic violence. The Molly Maid concept is recognized as one of America's most trusted names in home service. Entrepreneur magazine ranked Molly Maid in its top 100 franchises for the past 10 years, and Good Housekeeping rated the franchise as the "Best Value" among cleaning services.
