The donation doubles the company's previous commitment and will provide 80 youth with high-quality work experience this summer

Potbelly Sandwich Shops today announced it was celebrating the company’s 40th birthday by making a $40,000 donation to One Summer Chicago. The donation is doubling the company's previous commitment and will provide 80 youth the opportunity to work in corporate headquarters, as well as various Potbelly stores throughout the city.

"I want to thank Potbelly for joining the City’s effort to provide youth with safe and meaningful job opportunities this summer,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “Working together with our private partners, we are shaping the future of our city by providing our children with the tools they need and setting them the path to success,"

The Potbelly team will also host a job fair on June 5th and 6th where participating youth will have the opportunity to apply for positions and talk with employees.

“What really sets Potbelly apart is our commitment to the individual neighborhoods that our shops are in and we regularly partner with local organizations to give back to the communities we serve,” said Aylwin Lewis, Potbelly President and CEO. “This donation will allow Chicago’s youth an opportunity to gain real world experience and become a part of our Potbelly family.”

Since 2014, Potbelly has partnered with One Summer Chicago through Chicago Public Schools’ Career and Technical Education (CTE) program to place approximately 60 students in Potbelly shops for the summer program.

“Thanks to the ongoing support of Potbelly, One Summer Chicago continues providing youth with not only a job, but real life experience.” said Lisa Morrison Butler, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Support Services. “This program is an investment in our youth to help keep them safe, engaged and make our communities stronger. “

One Summer Chicago provides youth ages 14-24 with summer internship opportunities. The youth complete six or more weeks of work or career programming, contributing their skills and talents to Chicago’s vibrant communities. This year, the program anticipates providing more than 31,000 jobs in neighborhoods across the city.

Since One Summer Chicago was launched in 2011, Mayor Emanuel has steadily increased the number of available opportunities to keep youth safe and engaged each summer. Nearly 130,000 youth have gained valuable job training and work experience since the program began.

DFSS leads One Summer Chicago in partnership with participating agencies including: Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Housing Authority, After School Matters, Chicago Public Libraries, City Colleges of Chicago and Lincoln Park Zoo.