Restaurant workers live and work without paid leave, health benefits, or corporate safety nets. When a crisis hits, whether it is a health emergency, natural disaster, or sudden loss, the financial fall is fast. CORE, the national nonprofit that provides direct financial grants to food and beverage service families, exists to close that gap. This week on Behind the Numbers, Marc Cohen and Rich Sweeney are joined by Jill Chapman, CORE's Corporate Partnership Director, and Kristine Mills, who leads marketing for the organization after 30 years in restaurant and hospitality marketing. Together, they cover exactly how CORE operates, the numbers behind the mission, and what the organization is building in 2026. What you'll hear in this episode: CORE granted over $600,000 to more than 1,000 individuals last year, with funds reaching recipients within two weeks of application74% of CORE grantees list housing as their primary concern at the time of applicationSingle parents make up 56% to 72% of recipients, depending on the year's disaster volumeThe Restaurant365 silver partnership has helped 35 families and delivered 10,000+ meals over two yearsCORE MSO: how restaurant companies can now run branded internal employee assistance programs administered entirely by CORETwo new programs for 2026: Caring for the Classroom (school supplies) and Groceries with Gratitude (holiday meals)The business case: 75% of consumers prefer brands that support their communities; 90% of brands that do report it has been beneficialA first-person grant story from a restaurant worker who went from full-time employment to a hospital bed, unable to walk, in under 72 hours Resources mentioned: CORE website: coregives.orgCORE social media: @coregives on LinkedIn, Instagram, FacebookRestaurant365: restaurant365.com Subscribe to Behind the Numbers on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms. Leave a review if this episode was useful to you.
