Buy a sub, fight Alzheimer's at Jersey Mike's

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The lines could get long Wednesday at central Ohio Jersey Mike’s sub shops, and the Alzheimer’s Association is celebrating that.

It marks the restaurant chain’s annual Day of Giving, a national effort to raise money for worthy causes.

The 31 Jersey Mike’s in central Ohio have pledged this year to give all proceeds to the local Alzheimer’s Association.

Any money spent for anything at one of the restaurants will go directly to the Central Ohio Alzheimer’s Association, which could amount to the association’s biggest single donation ever.

The effort is being spearheaded by a local Jersey Mike’s franchisee who has a personal connection to Alzheimer’s.

Tyler Washington was a teenager, and his mother in her 40s, when she started showing signs of Alzheimer’s.

“I’m involved because of my mom,” he said. “My mom was our world. She was everything to us.

“At that age, you’re going through college, you’re going through trying to be an adult, and so to layer on the fact that you don’t know what’s going on in your family or you’re worried about, you know, how your mom is doing was a trying time and hours for our entire family.”

Now a father himself and the owner of three Jersey Mike’s franchises, Washington is turning his anxiety into action. He helped convince the other central Ohio franchisees to this year earmark the proceeds from the Day of Giving for the Alzheimer’s Association, and not just the profits.

“Oh no, it’s sales, doesn’t matter – chip, cookie, sub catering, you name it – whatever you order is going to be donated to them,” franchisee and area developer Steve Minnich said.

Washington, his three siblings, and his father already support the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

“Yeah, it’s a family affair,” he said. “We grew up as a tight-knit family. We grew up in a small family business, so everything we do is very together, and we fight together, and we’re doing that for our mom together.”

It’s possible business will more than double for the Day of Giving.  Washington said the Jersey Mike’s teams will be ready and they hope you show up hungry.

“It's one day, but boy, it's going to mean a lot, and we think from a, from a monetary standpoint, this is going to be an awesome event,” he said. “We hope to raise a ton of money. We also help to educate, to outreach, to advocate and to get people to understand what the Alzheimer's Association of Central Ohio does, and what they can do for everybody around. So, monetarily, we're excited for a huge contribution. We're also excited to, you know, get people to understand our cause and what we can maybe help them with.”

While Wednesday’s sales will be going to the association, the month of March is a charitable effort at Jersey Mike’s. Any day this month, you can round up the price of your order or make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Nationwide, the company will help more than 200 separate charities on Wednesday.

To find your nearest Jersey Mike’s location, click here.