Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio is delighted to have received the support of the local, family-owned Anthony-Thomas Candy Company in 2023, forging a new partnership going forward. Nick Trifelos, National Sales Manager for Anthony-Thomas, says the new partnership with RMHC of Central Ohio was instrumental in Anthony-Thomas receiving a Medical Mutual 2024 “Pillar Award for Community Service” recently.
The partnership includes a new activity room that can also double as a large guest room if needed, sponsored by Anthony-Thomas. In addition to providing this large gathering space, the candy company also started an annual fundraiser introducing the Ronald McDonald House Chocolate Bar with all profits going to the Columbus chapter. Never before had Ronald McDonald House Charities been the beneficiary of a candy bar named for the charity until the premiere of this chocolate bar last year. The chocolate bar will be sold every summer to help keep families close to their children getting care from area hospitals.
To help boost sells of the Ronald McDonald House chocolate bars, Englefield Oil, operator of Duchess fuel stations in Ohio and West Virginia, agreed to sell bars near the cash registers in its Central Ohio convenience stores during this cause marketing campaign.
Here’s how the online post by Smart Business Network featured Anthony-Thomas as a Pillar Award Honoree:
“The Anthony-Thomas Candy Co. was founded in 1952 by the father-son team of Anthony and Thomas Zanetos in Franklinton, Ohio. Today, it is the Midwest’s largest family-run candy company, producing 60,000 pounds of confections each day in its 154,000-square-foot candy factory. National Sales Manager Nick Trifelos represents the family’s fifth generation as he works alongside his mother and grandfather.
Nick Trifelos, National Sales Manager
Anthony-Thomas has always believed in the impact of community service. In January 2023, the company pledged to sponsor a space renovation as part of the expansion of the Ronald McDonald House of Columbus (RMHC). The Anthony-Thomas space will be called “A Sweet Gathering Place,” named by Vice President Candi Trifelos, and will include a full kitchen, bathroom, and living room with a Murphy bed.
While staying at RMHC, many families experience holidays and birthdays, and this will give them a space to make those days as meaningful as possible. However, use is not limited to special occasions. The room can be utilized by local businesses and will double as an emergency space if volunteers need to stay the night.
In 2023, Anthony-Thomas announced the release of the first-ever Ronald McDonald House Chocolate Bar. The specially branded bars will be available each summer, and all profits will benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio. Additionally, the company reopened walk-in tours of its facilities, enabling the community to see the magic of chocolate. Available for all ages, the tour is handicap-accessible and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant.”