Owner of 15 Dairy Queens in Hampton Roads recognized nationally for children’s hospital fundraising

Mitch Sandlin is known as both a successful businessman and a “miracle maker.”

The owner and operator of 15 Dairy Queen restaurants in Hampton Roads is working to fulfill a $5 million commitment to Children’s Hospital of The Kings Daughters’ mental health initiative.

“All you have to do is visit a children’s hospital once and you’ll be sold on what it does and how it does it,” Sandlin said.

Kate Ryan, philanthropy officer for CHKD, said the health system has a lot of wonderful local partners and Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen is one that goes above and beyond. She stressed that CHKD does not turn any child away regardless of insurance, injury, illness or ability to pay — and that wouldn’t be possible without community support.

“They have really made their support of CHKD part of their culture, which is absolutely incredible,” Ryan said.

Sandlin’s Dairy Queen locations have raised nearly $1.2 million for CHKD since its pledge in 2022 and had donated $1 million from 2008 to 2020, a spokesperson said.

Eighty percent of the money raised comes from customer donations via roundups. Customers can donate by rounding up their total to the nearest dollar.

Employees can also give half an hour of pay from each paycheck to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, and DQ matches it with a 10% donation.

“That totals about $40,000 a year that their associates are giving back, which is incredible for them to be giving their hard earned money before they’re even asking their customers to give back as well,” Ryan said.

Sandlin said new employees are given sheets of paper that encourage them to collectively watch their quarter hours turn into tens of thousands of dollars. Quarterly contests are also held for managers as they achieve their donation goals.

“Nobody is going to miss a quarter hour’s pay, but it adds up when you have almost 500 employees,” he said.

Matthew Bean, director of marketing and public relations for Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen, said everyone companywide cherishes the work they do for the hospital because of the culture Sandlin created.

For his substantial support of the community, Sandlin was recently recognized by American Dairy Queen Corp. with its Beacon of Hope award.

“This is the greatest accomplishment I’ve ever had with all my years with Dairy Queen,” Sandlin said.

Last year, more than 70% of roundup donations came from Sandlin’s stores — out of 4,500 locations throughout the U.S, he said.

“We’ve set the pace for American Dairy Queen for what can be achieved with Round Up,” he said.

In 2019, Sandlin had received the company’s annual Miracle Maker award for fundraising year-round through Round Up For Kids.

Sandlin started working at a DQ on South Street in Franklin as a teenager in 1965. He earned 75 cents an hour when ice cream cones cost a dime. He continued the job during college before making his first Dairy Queen purchase in 1972.

Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen is bringing back its Free Cone Day annual fundraiser on March 19 with the return of spring. Customers can get a free 5-ounce ice cream cone, and those who donate $1 to CHKD can receive a special topping. Find participating locations at dqhamptonroads.com.

Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@pilotonline.com