Still, he has a third great passion for giving back that shines through
in his humanitarian work. Matt Haley is a byproduct of people who
helped him and were there for him when he could not be there for
himself. These people have inspired his deep involvement in service—
both locally and globally. Living the way he lives, he understands
the importance of community and friendship, bringing that into his
restaurants and the many communities he is a part of. Just one of
the many ways he gives back is as an active member of the Latino
community surrounding Papa Grande’s. He gives a portion of the
profits back into the community and also goes into local schools to
work with the students offering support and mentorship.
In the end, the greatest part of the job is creating a business that
employs people, especially those who may not be that employable,
so they can have a good life, feed their children, and be happy. That
is the simple but noble mission of Matt Haley Companies (MHC).
Right now, MHC is expanding to 27 businesses and bringing in
about $50 million dollars in revenue. In the future, they hope to
have 100 businesses bringing in about $250 million. The goal is to
create revenue and leverage the profits for good. Whether that
means opening up a factory near a prison for work release, a coffee
plantation in Nepal for women who are coming out of bonded
labor so they can make a decent leaving and feed their families,
or hiring autistic young adults in their restaurants (something they
already do), Matt Haley infuses a commitment to others in every
step of the process.
While for many people, his recent awards would be the culmination
of a life’s work; they are just the beginning for Haley. He will
absolutely be one to watch as he continues to make great food
and an even greater difference in communities around the world.
—by Courtney Ingard
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