A youth development charity supporting young people from across the county has received a grant from a fast food chain.
The Wendy’s Company, through its Community Giving Programme, has donated £2,500 to Oxfordshire Youth.
This is the third year of the programme which encourages Wendy's employees to nominate charities which resonate with the company’s areas of support.
These are foster care adoption, hunger and food integrity, youth and families, and communities.
Twenty three organisations from across the USA, Canada, and the UK were shortlisted for the grant.
To date, nearly 100 organisations have received contribution since the programme's inception.
The proposal for Oxfordshire Youth came from Wendy's UK district manager, Stuart Foote.
The charity aims to transform young people’s lives, unite communities, and tackle inequality of opportunity.
Mr Foote said: "Wendy’s founder, Dave Thomas, built his business on the values of 'do the right thing', 'treat people with respect' and 'give something back'.
"His values are extremely important to me, and it was nice to see how Oxfordshire Youth shared similar values.
"Oxfordshire Youth have such an important role to play in the future of young people and that's so important in this current world we live in.
"It's so pleasing to see that a simple gesture can really make a difference to such an important charity and how that can really help them to continue the good work that they are doing."
The money will finance Oxfordshire Youth's initiatives aimed at elevating the lives of youth influenced by socio-economic strife across Oxfordshire.
This aid includes housing support, leadership programmes, and interventions for mental health.
Michael Clarke, managing director of Wendy's UK and Europe, said: "It’s fantastic to see the lives of young people in Oxford being positively affected by our Community Giving Programme.
"Wendy’s in the UK are proud to be interacting with the local communities we serve and hearing the feedback from Oxfordshire Youth is deeply humbling."
On November 16, Wendy's performed a ‘giving back day’, led by Wendy’s Oxford general manager, Ethan Rose.
The restaurant management team offered free signature meals to Oxfordshire Youth's ‘Young People Supported Accommodation Services’.
Emma Oshaughnessy, deputy CEO of Oxfordshire Youth said: "We are deeply grateful to Wendy's for their generous grant and unwavering support of our mission.
"Their commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of young people aligns perfectly with our goals, and this donation will enable us to further our impact in the community.
"Oxfordshire Youth is honoured to be among the recipients of Wendy's generosity."
Wendy’s can be found in Oxford at 1 Magdalen Street.
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