Driving forward by giving back: Driven Brands celebrates impact on National Volunteer Month
The Driven Brands Charitable Foundation empowers employees to give back, connect with their communities, and make a meaningful impact on the world.
“Giving back” looks different for everyone. At Driven Brands, it’s a concept that informs how the company shows up every day by giving time and resources to the people and communities who need it the most.
The Driven Brands Charitable Foundation offers employees and franchisees an opportunity to contribute to their communities through hands-on volunteer work, support for local partnerships, and participation in coordinated giving initiatives. So far in 2026, more than 130 Driven Brands team members have participated in group volunteer events supporting nonprofits across the country.
Together, these volunteers have packed winter weather kits for homeless shelters, prepared snack packs for after-school programs, and donated workplace attire to support International Women’s Day. At the Take 5 Oil Change Rally, volunteers packed 500 hygiene kits for Ronald McDonald House in Tampa Bay, and the event donated $5,000 to support the organization’s five properties.
This National Volunteer Month, Driven Brands is highlighting two employees who bring the Foundation’s mission to life through their time, energy, and personal commitment to giving back.
Miranda Pender leads with heart
For Miranda Pender, volunteering is simply an extension of who she is.
An Administrative Assistant in Driven's Legal Department, Miranda regularly participates in Foundation-backed events, from donation drives to community partnerships. Her involvement in the Charlotte community is deep, and she works with a variety of groups and causes that reflect her personal experiences as a single mother and commitment to helping others.
“I give my time whenever I can,” Miranda said. “We all can’t afford to give monetarily all the time, but my time is valuable.”
The causes she supports reflect that mindset. Miranda has participated in breast cancer awareness walks—an issue that has affected close friends and their families—as well as school supply initiatives that support students and parents experiencing financial challenges.
One of her most memorable experiences came through a recent Habitat for Humanity build, where she helped construct part of a home for a future family.
“We were able to put up three walls,” she said. “To actually do the work hands-on and help build something for a family moving in was an awesome experience.”
And she takes the skills she learns while volunteering back home with her. Miranda was doing small wood projects but has recently begun woodworking after volunteering for Habitat for Humanity.
“I told my sons that for Mother’s Day I wanted a miter saw,” she said. “My passion grew from that experience, and now I get to carry that skill with me through life.”
Drew Osborne pays it forward
For IT team member Drew Osborne, volunteering is deeply personal. He traces his commitment to service back to his own childhood when he learned community support can make a lasting difference.
“I’m a product of the positive impact that volunteering and helping others can have,” Drew said. “When I was younger, my school got together to buy me birthday and Christmas presents. I want to pay that forward to others.”
The experience fuels his ongoing enthusiasm for the Foundation’s events. He rarely misses an opportunity to help and often brings his wife along with him.
Drew has packed Thanksgiving meal kits (earning a proudly displayed “turkey trophy” for his efforts) and assembled sandwiches and school supplies. Each time, he tries to bring both energy and creativity to the table.
And he’s connecting with others as well.
“Not only do I get to help people, but I also get to meet new people I would never talk to otherwise,” Drew said. “Those are experiences that stay with me long after the event is done.”
A company commitment to community
Miranda and Drew reflect the broader culture across Driven Brands—one of ownership, compassion, and doing business the right way.
Through the Driven Brands Charitable Foundation, all employees get the opportunity to put those values into action and make a meaningful difference in their communities. Some of its current causes include honoring veterans, fighting cystic fibrosis, and supporting children’s hospitals.
This April, check out the Charitable Foundation for more chances to serve.