ALLENDALE, N.J., Jan 17, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Doherty Enterprises-owned Applebee’s® Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants in New Jersey today announced the official start of their 7th annual Above and “BEE”yond Teacher Essay Contest. The annual essay contest recognizes top teachers – as nominated by their students – rewarding teachers with a $500 sponsorship check and special end-of-year class party. The contest is open at participating Applebee’s® restaurants in New Jersey that are owned and operated by local franchisee, Doherty Enterprises (see complete list of participating restaurants below).

Above and Beeyond Teacher Essay Contest 2023
Image Caption: 7th annual Above and “BEE”yond Teacher Essay Contest.

Four of NJ’s most deserving teachers will be rewarded with a $500 sponsorship check to use to better their classrooms for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year, along with an end-of-year party for the students in their current class!*

To nominate a teacher and enter the contest, students must submit an essay, in-person, at their local NJ Doherty Enterprise-owned Applebee’s® explaining why their teacher deserves to be chosen Applebee’s® “Teacher of the Year.”

Elementary school students are required to nominate their teacher with a ½ page essay, while middle and high school students are required to write a 500-word essay on why their teacher is most deserving.

As an additional incentive, students who enter an essay will receive a free ice cream certificate** for later use.

Essay submissions are limited to one per student and will only be accepted at the participating Applebee’s® restaurants from Monday, January 9 through Sunday, March 12, no later than 10 pm ET. Winners will be announced on Friday, April 14 and end-of-year parties will be thrown before Sunday, June 11. If end-of-year parties are not viable, class parties will be replaced with two Free-Dinner-for-Four certificates.

“We’re excited to celebrate the launch of our seventh annual Above and ‘BEE’yond Teacher Essay Contest at our New Jersey restaurants,” said Kevin Coughlin, Doherty’s Director of Operations. “We’re honored to recognize the local teachers who work so hard to educate the youth. It’s truly gratifying to provide a platform where students can share the meaningful impact of their teachers make and to spotlight local community members making a difference each and every day.”

Applebee’s® Above and “BEE”yond Teacher Essay Contest entries will be accepted at the following NJ Applebee’s® locations that are owned and operated by Doherty Enterprises:

Brick, Bridgewater, Butler, Clark, Clifton, Edison, Garfield, Hackensack, Hackettstown, Hillsborough, Howell, Jersey City, Jersey Gardens, Kearny, Lacey, Linden, Manahawkin, Manalapan, Manchester, Middletown, Milltown, Mt. Olive, Newark, Newton, North Bergen, Ocean, Paramus, Parsippany, Phillipsburg, Piscataway, Rockaway, Tinton Falls, Totowa, and Union.

*One winner will be selected from each set of counties, grouped together by the following geographic areas: – (Bergen, Passaic, Hudson); (Warren, Hunterdon, Somerset, Union); (Morris, Sussex, Essex); and (Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean). Please note, essay submissions from the 2022-2023 school year will also be included in this year’s voting. Prizes are subject to change based on COVID-19 restrictions. If end-of-year parties are not viable, class parties will be replaced with two Dinner for Four certificates.

**Offer valid only at Doherty Enterprises owned and operated Applebee’s® locations in NJ. Limit one per person. May not be redeemed on day of purchase. Cannot be combined with any other offers.

About Doherty Enterprises, Inc.

Established in 1985, Doherty Enterprises owns and operates more than 130 restaurants in New Jersey, New York, Florida and Georgia, including five restaurant concepts: Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, Panera Bread, Chevys Fresh Mex and its own concepts, The Shannon Rose Irish Pub and Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas. In addition, Doherty Enterprises is also a franchisee of Sola Salon Studios with 8 locations in Staten Island and New Jersey. Doherty Enterprises is ranked 11th in Top 200 Franchisees in the United States by Restaurant Finance Monitor, is recognized as the 77th largest Foodservice revenue company in the United States by Nation’s Restaurant News, the 73rd largest privately held business in the New York Metro area by Crain’s Business, and 34th largest privately held company in New Jersey by NJBIZ.

The Doherty vision is to be the “Best Food Service Company in the Communities We Serve” and its mission is to “Wow Every Guest Every Time, Wow our People, Wow Our Communities and Wow Our Suppliers.” Doherty Enterprises has also been lending a helping hand to team members and their immediate families when financially burdened through the WOW a Friend Foundation. To date, the foundation has assisted more than 3,100 people and donated over $4.1 million directly back to those in need. (www.DohertyInc.com).

About Applebee’s®

As one of the world’s largest casual dining brands, Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar serves as America’s kitchen table, offering guests a lively dining experience that combines simple, craveable American fare with classic drinks and local drafts. Applebee’s makes it easy for family and friends to connect with one another, whether it’s in a dining room or in the comfort of a living room, Eatin’ Good in the Neighborhood™ is a familiar and affordable escape from the everyday.

Applebee’s restaurants are owned and operated by entrepreneurs dedicated to more than serving great food, but also building up the communities that we call home. From raising money for local charities to hosting community fundraisers, Applebee’s is always Doin’ Good in the Neighborhood®. Applebee’s franchise operations consisted of 1,670 Applebee’s restaurants in the United States, two U.S. territories and 11 countries outside the United States as of September 30, 2022. This number does not include three domestic Applebee’s ghost kitchens (small kitchens with no store-front presence, used to fill off-premise orders) and 13 Applebee’s international ghost kitchens. Applebee’s is franchised by subsidiaries of Dine Brands Global Inc. [NYSE: DIN], which is one of the world’s largest full-service restaurant companies.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Lynn Munroe

lynn@maracaibomedia.com

845-548-1211

News Source: Doherty Enterprises