A caring organization
The HERO Fund
The HERO Fund was created as an emergency relief fund serving employees of all Hamra Enterprises entities: Wendy’s of Missouri,Wendy’s of New England, Wendy’s of Chicago, Chicago Bread, Boston Bread, Southern Bread, Hamra Noodles, SJH Inns and Hamra Management. Hamra Enterprises is committed to supporting and respecting its valued employees and the things that matter to them.
HERO stands for Hamra Employees Reaching Out. Our HERO Fund is funded by employees for employees. All money donated is used to make a difference for employees. It’s simple to be a HERO: being a HERO can mean donating as little as $1 or more out of each paycheck. To ensure the fund can make a difference for as many employees as possible, Hamra Enterprises matches donations dollar for dollar.
Since its inception, we have grown how the HERO Fund can enable employees to make a difference for each other. We now have a home buying assistance program in Chicago and Tuition Reimbursement available for all eligible employees.
The HERO Fund is now partnered with WorkLife. WorkLife is a free, confidential service that can help you overcome many of life’s challenges. Because when you’re facing a stressful situation or navigating change, you might not know where to start or who can help.
The Emergency Funding Process
The HERO Fund & WorkLife
As a result of our new WorkLife partnership, we have redesigned our process so that our employees get the most support and benefit they can when faced with challenging life situations.
When an employee applies for emergency funding, their application is reviewed by a HERO Fund administrator to assess the pathway forward that will provide the most effective support for the applicant. Applicants facing housing-related emergencies will be referred directly to a WorkLife Navigator, as they have the most comprehensive guidance and resources available for these kinds of situations. This includes applications for Total Loss of Home, Transitional Housing and Relocation Assistance. Any applicants applying for Loss or Purchase of Medically Necessary Equipment or any situations that does not fall under the currently stated eligible emergency events will also be referred directly to a WorkLife Navigator. If the WorkLife Navigator exhausts all of their resources and still sees HERO grant funding would make a difference, the applicant’s HERO grant application will be submitted to the Steering Committee to be reviewed and voted on based on the HERO eligibility guidelines and proper documentation.
Emergency Travel, Funeral Expenses and Medical Out of Work applications with the proper documentation will be submitted to the HERO Fund immediately for grant funding consideration, and our HERO Administrators will recommend the applicant also work with a WorkLife Navigator. The financial impact of these events is often greater than what a HERO grant can address. Working with a WorkLife Navigator will provide more far-reaching support during these times.
HERO Emergency Grant Funding Process
Once an application is ready to be considered for HERO grant funding based on the guidelines above, the HERO Administrator sends the application (without a name or any identifying information to preserve confidentiality) to The HERO Fund Steering Committee for approval. Once the Steering Committee has voted, The HERO Fund administration team will contact the employee to let them know the status of their application, and any approved funds will be mailed directly the employee within 24-48 hours of approval (except in situations involving grants for Relocation Assistance, in which case the check is distributed directly to the landlord.)
Tuition Reimbursement & Home Buying Assistance
For more information about The Tuition Reimbursement grant funding process click here.
For more information about the Home Buying Assistance Program (Chicago Only) click here.