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 application
74% of CORE grantees list housing as their primary concern at the time of application
Single parents make up 56% to 72% of recipients, depending on the year's disaster volume
The Restaurant365 silver partnership has helped 35 families and delivered 10,000+ meals over two years
CORE MSO: how restaurant companies can now run branded internal employee assistance programs administered entirely by CORE
Two 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 beneficial
A 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.org
CORE social media: @coregives on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook
Restaurant365: restaurant365.com

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How CORE Distributed $600K in Grants to Restaurant Families Last Year.