Balance Gives Back: How One Guest Sparked a Tradition of Holiday Giving at Balance Grille
The holidays are a time for connection – a chance to slow down, take care of one another, and make sure everyone in our community feels supported. At Balance Grille, this season always brings us back to our purpose: serving happiness through food.
That belief ignited a giving tradition that started with a single act of generosity and has grown into a community-wide movement. Today, Balance Gives Back is one of our most meaningful holiday initiatives – one built on compassion, gratitude, and the power of shared impact.
But to understand why this campaign means so much, you have to go back to where it began.
How Balance Gives Back Started: One Guest, A Ton of Loyalty Points, and a Big Idea
In early 2023, University of Toledo student – and Balance superfan – Abby Kohler approached our team with an idea we’ll never forget. After earning more than 3,000 loyalty points through our app, points she could have redeemed for bowls, tacos, snacks, or bubble teas, Abby asked if she could use them for something different.
She wanted to turn her points into free meals for people who needed them most.
Her idea was simple. Generous. And completely aligned with our mission to serve happiness through food.
Inspired by Abby’s compassion, our founders, Prakash Karamchandani and HoChan Jang, immediately saw how this one gesture could spark something bigger. Balance already had close partnerships with nonprofits across Toledo and Cleveland – including The Victory Center, Cherry St. Mission, Beach House Inc., and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Ohio.
Abby’s idea became the catalyst to activate meaningful meal donations across our communities.
What began as one guest’s thoughtful request quickly grew into a brand-led initiative. Guests rallied behind Abby. Points poured in. Balance Grille is matching all points pledged in an effort to make an even bigger impact.
That moment marked the beginning of Balance Gives Back, a tradition rooted in kindness and community.
The Mission for 2025: Sharing Warm, Comforting Meals With Local Families
Today, the heart of the campaign remains the same – but the impact continues to grow.
For the 2025 holiday season, Balance Grille is preparing to share chef-crafted, scratch-made bowls with families across Toledo and Cleveland. These aren’t symbolic donations or shelf-stable items – they’re the same high-quality meals our guests enjoy every day, made with clean ingredients, whole grains, and vibrant vegetables inspired by Asian culinary traditions.
And just like our very first year, the backbone of this initiative is you. Every loyalty point pledged becomes part of a larger cycle of giving. This isn’t just a food donation – it’s a shared effort to uplift neighbors, support families facing hardship, and ensure everyone has access to a nourishing meal during the holiday season.
Our 2025 Nonprofit Partners: Organizations Making a Real Difference
This year, Balance Gives Back is partnering with four incredible nonprofits serving our Toledo and Cleveland communities:
- The Victory Center: Providing support programs for cancer patients and their families
- Saint Martin de Porres Soup Kitchen: Serving warm meals and offering compassionate community care
- Greater Cleveland Food Bank: Fighting hunger through large-scale food distribution and outreach
- Ronald McDonald House: Providing housing, comfort, and support for families with children receiving medical care
Each partner reflects our core values: nourishment, dignity, community, and connection. Their work embodies what we hope to strengthen through our meal donations.
How to Participate: Pledge Your Loyalty Points in the Balance App
Giving back through the Balance app is simple and takes less than a minute.
Here’s how to join the movement:
- Open the Balance Grille App
- Tap the Balance Gives Back coupon card
- Follow the link to the Balance Gives Back Form
- Submit, and your contribution is counted immediately.
Prefer to go straight to the form? You can do that, too. Whether you pledge 10 points or 1,000, every donation matters.
Balance oversees meal prep and distribution, working directly with our nonprofit partners to ensure every contribution becomes a meaningful meal.
Why Giving Back Matters at Balance Grille
Balance Grille has always been more than a fast-casual restaurant. Since opening our doors in 2010, our mission has stayed the same: serve clean, chef-driven Asian fusion meals built on whole grains, fresh vegetables, and globally inspired flavors. As we’ve grown one thing has never changed: Good food should do good things.
From our transparent sourcing at Balance Farms, to our scratch kitchens, to our no-manager team model, Balance is built on the belief that food connects people – to each other, to their communities, and to something bigger.
Balance Gives Back is a reflection of that belief. What started with Abby’s compassion has blossomed into something far more impactful. And every year, our guests remind us how powerful shared generosity can be.
Join Us in Giving Back This Holiday Season
We made a meaningful impact during our first initiative – and this year, we’re eager to top it together.
Pledge your loyalty points. Share the campaign. Encourage a friend or family member to join in.
Every point pledged goes towards a meal.
Every meal becomes comfort for those that need it.
Every act of giving strengthens the community we love.
Let’s come together to make this our most impactful year yet!