The JBJ Soul Foundation is proud to share that our program, JBJ Soul Kitchen, has once again been selected to receive a grant by Kohl’s A Community with Heart Program. In 2022, JBJ Soul Kitchen in Red Bank and Toms River have served almost 25,000 meals to patrons and our surrounding community with 58% of the meals being served to those in need. The need in our communities continue to rise with the percentage of diners unable to pay for their meals increasing each month. With Kohl’s $30,000 grant, our community restaurants can continue serving healthy meals to those in-need and to the generous donors who support our mission to address issues of food insecurity.

Kohl’s grant to the JBJ Soul Foundation was made through Kohl’s A Community with Heart Program. In the spirit of giving with all of its heart this holiday season, Kohl’s, through its A Community with Heart Program, will donate $8 million in grants to selected nonprofit organizations across the country, demonstrating the company’s ongoing commitment to family health and wellness. Kohl’s store teams and leaders across the country identified and nominated nonprofit recipients from 49 states that are near and dear to their hearts. The full list of selected grant recipients is available on Corporate.Kohls.com.

The donations are made possible through Kohl’s philanthropic merchandise program, Kohl’s Cares®, which sells children’s books and toys and donates 100 percent of the net profit to charitable organizations across the country that improve the health and wellness of families. To learn more about how Kohl’s gives back to communities nationwide, visit Corporate.Kohls.com.

We are so thankful to have been selected once again to receive a grant from Kohl’s who have been a longtime supporter of our mission. This grant will support us in our mission to help break the cycle of hunger, poverty, and homelessness…one SOUL at a time. Thank you!

About Kohl’s

Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) is a leading omnichannel retailer. With more than 1,100 stores in 49 states and the online convenience of Kohls.com and the Kohl’s App, Kohl’s offers amazing national and exclusive brands at incredible savings for families nationwide. Kohl’s is uniquely positioned to deliver against its strategy and its vision to be the most trusted retailer of choice for the active and casual lifestyle. Kohl’s is committed to progress in its diversity and inclusion pledges, and the company’s environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) stewardship. For a list of store locations or to shop online, visit Kohls.com. For more information about Kohl’s impact in the community or how to join our winning team, visit Corporate.Kohls.com or follow @KohlsNews on Twitter.

The duo will raise funds & awareness through in-store fundraising and an enter-to-win sweepstakes featuring 5 personalized, autographed, “Caravan Sound” Acoustic guitars signed by Jon Bon Jovi

PHILADELPHIA, PA, Dec. 7, 2022- Local restaurant group Chickie’s & Pete’s is joining forces with the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation to raise money for individuals and families fighting hunger and homelessness during the holiday season. Since 2006, the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation has worked to break the cycle of hunger, poverty, and homelessness through developing partnerships, creating programs, and providing grant funding to support innovative community benefit organizations.

From 12/5/2022 – 1/1/2023 at participating Chickie’s and Pete’s locations across PA and NJ, guests will have the opportunity to donate after their meal and add their name to a paper guitar, which will be placed around the restaurant to show their support of this cause. Guests will also be able to enter to win a personalized, autographed “Caravan Sound” Acoustic guitar signed by Jon Bon Jovi. Guests can donate at any time during their Chickie’s and Pete’s visit and all sweepstakes entries can be made through their phones.

“We are thankful to Chickie’s & Pete’s for supporting the JBJ Soul Foundation this holiday season,” said Jon Bon Jovi, Board Chairman of the JBJ Soul Foundation. “The Foundation has provided funding for emergency shelters, permanent supportive housing, meal programs and more throughout Philadelphia and New Jersey. People can feel good about their donations as the funds raised by this partnership will go right back into the surrounding communities to help those who are less fortunate.”

The Foundation started its work through the localized efforts of the Philadelphia Soul Arena Football Team and its owners, which included Jon Bon Jovi. The Foundation quickly expanded its mission and has a national presence in its commitment to finding innovative solutions to end hunger and homelessness. Working with corporate partners like Chickie’s and Pete’s has helped to make this possible.

“Chickie’s and Pete’s has been a long-time partner of ours going back to the very beginning of the Philadelphia Soul Arena Football team where the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation started,” said Craig Spencer, Co-Chairman of the JBJ Soul Foundation. “Working with Pete once again is something we are excited about as he has always stepped up to help where he can. We appreciate his support and friendship and look forward to using the funds raised this holiday season to make a difference in the lives of those in need.”

“We’re ecstatic to be teaming up with my longtime friend, Jon Bon Jovi, and the JBJ Soul Foundation. It’s an honor to be able to work together to fight the impacts of hunger and homelessness right before the holiday season.” Peter Ciarrocchi, Chairman and CEO of Chickie’s & Pete’s.

About Chickie’s and Pete’s

Chickie’s & Pete’s is a Philadelphia-based crab house and sports bar with 17 locations across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and a brand-new location in Las Vegas. Founded in 1977 by Peter and Henrietta Ciarrocchi, Chickie’s & Pete’s began as a single corner bar in the Mayfair neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia and has since grown to become one of the most recognizable brands in the region. It’s famous, one-of-a-kind Crabfries® concession locations can be found in stadiums, areas, boardwalks, and amusement parks throughout the country. Chickie’s & Pete’s is a leader in forging innovative strategic partnerships and utilizing technology to bring together casual dining with interactive sports entertainment. The company combines family-based vales with a love of all things sports and entertainment in each of its locations. Learn more at chickiesandpetes.com

The 10^th Annual Forbes 400 Summit on Philanthropy took place in New York City on September 23, 2022. This annual event brought together over 100 of the world’s leading philanthropists, social entrepreneurs and business leaders for critical discussions on how to apply wealth and resources to solve today’s most intractable problems.

Forbes invited Jon Bon Jovi, Board Chairman of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation (JBJSF) and Dorothea Bongiovi, Founder & Program Director of JBJ Soul Kitchen, to speak in a fireside chat discussion. At the 10^th Annual Event, Jon and Dorothea were the closing speakers, where in the first annual event, they opened this discussion that brings people together to strengthen society. This year’s summit focused on one particular challenge – global food insecurity – which demands the innovative, solutions-oriented attention of the world’s most successful people. This is an issue that both the JBJSF and JBJ Soul Kitchen’s mission are built upon, as they continue to break the cycle of poverty, hunger and homelessness.

“Paying it forward is effecting change directly,” said Jon Bon Jovi as he discussed the goals of JBJSF in conversation with Randall Lane. He continued, “We’re effecting change one person at a time,” a foundation which JBJ Soul Kitchen is so proud to be built upon. By understanding the needs of the individuals, the team at JBJ Soul Kitchen is able to find the appropriate resources to help their patrons.

In order to stay focused on the work at hand, Dorothea Bongiovi stated, “You just have to put your head down and continue to put one step in front of the other. Do what you can do. If everyone did that, things would get a little bit better.” As both JBJSF and JBJ Soul Kitchen navigate the challenges of food insecurity and homelessness, the organizations rely on the generous donations of their supporters. Without the teamwork of the staff and volunteers, and the support of our very generous donors, this mission would not be possible. Please join us in helping to end this fight. Donate today.