Every April is Good Citizens Month at Inspire Brands, when the Inspire Brands Foundation and Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation work with non-profit organizations to make volunteer service projects available to Inspire team members and franchisees throughout the month of April. From sorting and donating food to cleaning up community spaces, our team member volunteers are making an impact during Good Citizens Month and beyond.
Jaymadel “Jaymie” Bello is a Good Citizens Ambassador at Inspire, partnering with the Inspire Brands Foundation to organize volunteer opportunities for Inspire team members and franchisees in the New York area. She’s been with the company for more than a decade, growing her Buffalo Wild Wings career from bartender in Pennsylvania to an award-winning general manager in New York. Through every step in her journey, Jaymie has been steadfast in her volunteer efforts to better her surrounding community.
“My mother taught me from a young age that volunteering holds the power to uplift others and create positive change,” says Jaymie. “That’s what being a Good Citizen means to me – that no matter how bad it gets, there is someone willing to help.”
Being a Good Citizen is one of Inspire’s Core Behaviors, guiding us to elevate each other and the communities we serve. As a seasoned volunteer with organizations like Alex’s Lemonade Stand, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Association, and the American Red Cross, Jaymie saw the opportunity to empower Inspire team members and franchisees to follow this Core Behavior during Good Citizens Month.
“My hope is that I can help others feel as strongly connected to our values as I do, creating an impact so great that they pass acts of kindness on to others, creating a ripple of it throughout their communities,” says Jaymie. “Showing our teams that they can make a difference changes how they see the world – better yet, how they see themselves in it.”
As a Good Citizens Ambassador, Jaymie regularly connects with other general managers across the Inspire family to organize volunteer opportunities that their teams can participate in. One leader she always partners with is Arby’s District Manager Jill O’Connor. “Jill and I have joined forces numerous times over the years to volunteer at the Samaritan Center Soup Kitchen and Food Distribution Center in Syracuse, New York. I’m excited to share that we’re collaborating again this year to help feed those facing food insecurity.”
For Jaymie, opportunities to give back and lead with kindness exist year-round. “My journey has been filled with lots of lessons and wonderful people. There’s a world of opportunities out there – some that may not even exist yet. It’s worth it to always give your best effort and put your heart into what you’re doing, no matter the task. How you do anything is how you do everything.”
To learn more about Good Citizens Month, visit our Impact website.
Interested in a career with Inspire and our brands? Visit our Careers website.
