Before his senior year, Noah Nieto was looking forward to playing basketball and eventually heading off to college after graduation. However, in August 2019 after experiencing prolonged back pain, Noah was diagnosed with chondrosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. With the diagnosis came a whirlwind of treatments, including a 17-week stretch of chemotherapy, followed by surgery to remove the tumor located near his pelvis.

After hearing about Noah’s story, Jami Salyers, Director of Operations for Arby’s franchisee Irish Beef, knew the Vail, Arizona, restaurant could help. They hosted an all-day fundraising event and donated 50 percent of the day’s sales to Noah’s family to help with his medical expenses. Jami and her dedicated group of Arby’s team members got to work promoting the fundraiser online, hanging banners around town and passing out fliers at Noah’s high school. The University of Arizona men’s basketball team also donated a pair of tickets to be raffled off during the event.

“I would like to personally thank all of the Arby’s team members who made a difference in Noah’s life and helped show all of us what it truly means to give back to the community.” Jami Salyers, Arby’s Franchisee, Irish Beef

The Vail community, along with others from across Tucson, turned out in droves to support Noah and his family. In total, the Vail restaurant donated $6,000 to Noah’s family. They are currently still accepting donations via GoFundMe.

Arby’s believes a restaurant can make a difference. That’s why it has always felt a responsibility to improve the lives of its team members and the community they serve. For more information on how Arby’s is making a difference across the country, visit foundation.arbys.com.