Doherty Enterprises’ Applebee’s® Launches 26th Annual Toys for Tots® Campaign with New Ways to Give Back

Doherty Enterprises, Inc., a leading franchisee for Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar in New York City, Long Island, N.Y., and New Jersey, is thrilled to announce the launch of its 26th annual Toys for Tots® campaign. This year, the initiative aims to bring holiday joy to local children by raising $250,000, adding to the over $5.4 million already raised since the partnership began in 1998.

Beginning November 1, 2024, through January 5, 2025, guests can participate in a variety of donation opportunities across all participating Doherty Applebee’s locations. Donations can be made by rounding up checks to the nearest dollar, purchasing festive “paper gift packs,” or enjoying seasonal drinks, including the Mucho Jack & Jingle and Cranberry Margarita, with a portion of proceeds donated directly to Toys for Tots. In appreciation, guests who donate $10 or more will receive a “Bounce Back” coupon for a complimentary appetizer on their next visit.

“Our longstanding partnership with Toys for Tots has helped provide children in need with holiday cheer for over two decades,” said Kurt Pahlitzsch, Vice President of Operations at Doherty Enterprises. “This year, we’re excited to reach for an ambitious goal and offer our guests a meaningful way to join us in making a difference. Together, we’re not just raising funds—we’re uplifting our communities and ensuring every child experiences the joy of the season.”

In addition to the fundraising activities, select Doherty-owned Applebee’s locations will host Breakfast with Santa events on Saturday, December 7, offering families the chance to celebrate the season while supporting a worthy cause. All proceeds from these events will be donated directly to the Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program, ensuring that every dollar raised helps brighten the lives of children in local neighborhoods. Can we say something like tickets can be purchased at your local Applebee’s restaurant in NJ and Long Island.

For more information about Doherty Enterprises, their commitment to their communities, and current job openings, visit http://www.dohertyinc.com.

About Applebee’s®

As one of the world’s largest casual dining brands, Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar serves as America’s kitchen table, offering guests a lively dining experience that combines simple, craveable American fare with classic drinks and local drafts. Applebee’s makes it easy for family and friends to connect with one another, whether it’s in a dining room or in the comfort of a living room, Eatin’ Good in the Neighborhood™ is a familiar and affordable escape from the everyday. Applebee’s restaurants are owned and operated by entrepreneurs dedicated to more than serving great food, but also building up the communities that we call home. From raising money for local charities to hosting community fundraisers, Applebee’s is always Doin’ Good in the Neighborhood®. Applebee’s franchise operations consisted of 1,625 Applebee’s restaurants in the United States, two U.S. territories and 12 countries outside the United States as of June 30, 2024. This number does not include one domestic Applebee’s ghost kitchens (small kitchens with no store-front presence, used to fill off-premise orders) and eight Applebee’s international ghost kitchens. Applebee’s is franchised by subsidiaries of Dine Brands Global Inc. [NYSE: DIN], which is one of the world’s largest full-service restaurant companies.

About Doherty Enterprises, Inc.

Established in 1985, Doherty Enterprises owns and operates more than 160 restaurants in New Jersey, New York, including seven restaurant concepts: Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, Panera Bread, Wendy’s, Jinya Ramen Bar, Chevys Fresh Mex and its own concepts, The Shannon Rose Irish Pub and Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas. In addition, Doherty Enterprises is also a franchisee of Sola Salon Studios with 15 locations in Staten Island and New Jersey.
Doherty Enterprises is ranked 27th Largest Franchisee in the United States by Restaurant Finance Monitor, is recognized as the 80th largest Foodservice revenue company in the United States by Nation’s Restaurant News, the 70th largest privately held business in the New York Metro area by Crain’s Business, and 24th in NJ’s Top 250 privately held companies & 5th Largest Family-Owned Business Based on Employees in New Jersey by NJBIZ. The Doherty vision is to be the “Best Food Service Company in the Communities We Serve” and its mission is to “Wow Every Guest Every Time, Wow our People, Wow Our Communities and Wow Our Suppliers.” Doherty Enterprises has also been lending a helping hand to team members and their immediate families when financially burdened through the WOW a Friend Foundation. To date, the foundation has assisted more than 4,200 people and donated over $5.7 million directly back to those in need. (www.DohertyInc.com).