HERO Fund

The HERO Fund is an emergency relief fund created to serve all Hamra Enterprises employees in nine states: Arkansas Kansas, Illinois, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, Tennessee, and Texas.

The HERO Fund (Hamra Employees Reaching Out) is committed to helping employees support each other in times of need, in various ways. It can be as little as donating $1 or more out of each paycheck or making huge one-time donations to support the fund.

Any money that goes into the fund is used to help all employees that apply for emergency grant. These emergency grants may include rebuilding a home after a fire outbreak, pay off a mortgage, cover funeral expenses, and many more.

Since its inception in 2010, the HERO Fund has raised $1,385,085.51 in funds and given $651,192.89 in grants to 695 people and their families.

HERO Fund now has a new partnership deal with WorkLife, a free confidential service that helps people easily overcome daily challenges. The new partnership will make the HERO Fund more effective in helping Hamra employees. As a result, Hamra has redesigned its grant funding process.

In the new grant funding process, applicants with housing-related emergencies and those that need to purchase medically necessary equipment will be first referred to a WorkLife Navigator. If there is still a financial need after that, the application will be sent back to the HERO Administrator and considered for HERO grant funding, if the applicant is eligible.

Applications for other grant funding like emergency travel, funeral expenses, and medical out of work, will be submitted directly to the HERO Fund for consideration. Consideration will be based on the applicant’s eligibility and documentation. The HERO Administrators will also recommend the applicants to work with a WorkLife Navigator to provide more support during trying times.

HERO Fund Eligibility Requirements

• All employees of Boston Bread, Chicago Bread, Southern Bread. Wendy’s of Missouri, Wendy’s of New England, Wendy’s of Chicago, SJH Inns, Hamra Noodles, and Hamra Management can apply for the funding

• Applicant must be an active Hamra employee for 90 days

• Applicant must have exhausted all other appropriate means of getting financial assistance. (This may include working with a WorkLife Navigator).

• Applicant must experience hardship beyond individual control which could result in loss of life or property.

• Applicant must provide relevant documentation prepared by an approved third party.

ELIGIBLE EMERGENCIES

HERO Fund will only consider funding any of the eligible emergencies only after the applicant has worked with a WorkLife Navigator.

• Total loss of home: when a home is completely destroyed by fire or any other disaster and is rendered unlivable.

• Transitional Housing Assistance: When moving to a new home is a matter of personal safety

• Relocation Assistance: When there is a threat of being homeless soon due to an unexpected event

• Loss or Purchase of Medically Necessary Equipment: When essential medical equipment is not included in your medical plan

Some HERO Funding funds can be considered for funding immediately. They include:

• Emergency Travel: In the event of a terminal disease or funeral

• Medical Out of Work (Short-term & Long-term): When you or a spouse has been termed ineligible to work by a physician. Or an immediate family member is in need care due to illness for more than 3 days

• Funeral: When you or an immediate family member dies

For more information, visit: HERO Fund