Domino’s Partners Foundation Makes the Gift of Hearing Possible

Javier Torres, an assistant manager at a Domino’s in New Mexico, was born with a rare condition known as microtia. Microtia is a congenital deformity where the outer ear is small and doesn’t fully develop during early pregnancy. Javier relied on hearing aids for the first 27 years of his life until 2020 when he was given the chance to enhance his hearing capabilities.

A doctor in Idaho was able to perform ear reconstruction surgery on Javier. Javier, while thrilled about the surgery and what it meant for his hearing, was stressed about recovery as it required him to miss six months of work. Javier was nervous about how he would be able to pay his bills, as well as afford the additional costs related to the surgery – including travel from New Mexico and lodging in Idaho.

Javier called the Domino’s Partners Foundation for assistance. The Partners Foundation formed in 1986 as an independent nonprofit organization with the primary objective to provide financial assistance to Domino’s franchise and corporate team members in need. Partners is generously funded by Domino’s team members who opt to donate money through a payroll deduction program.

Partners was able to help Javier pay for his rent and utilities while he focused on his surgery and recovery.

“The support from Partners allowed me to keep my life on track and not have to choose between this life-changing procedure and providing for my family,” said Javier. “I knew my family was in good hands – Partners helped keep a roof over our heads.”

Javier had a smooth recovery and has since returned to his assistant manager role at Domino’s.

“When I first called the Foundation, I wasn’t sure what it would be like to have ears,” he said. “Because of Partners and my medical team, I heard the world around me for the first time.”

Partners distributed more than $1.9 million in financial assistance to approximately 1,500 team members in 2020, bringing the total aid provided since 1986 to $23 million.

To learn more about Domino’s Partners Foundation and how it has helped other team members, visit biz.dominos.com/about/partners/.

For more information on this story, contact us.