Charlie Harmon, owner of 56 Arby’s restaurants in Arizona, is committed to serving the communities surrounding his businesses.

Harmon and Vice President of Operations Jay Johnson ventured to Safford to donate $3,000 to Safford High School athletics. Safford Principal Rich DeRidder and Safford Athletic Director Joe Burnside were on hand to receive the check.

“The city and the community have been very good to us,” Harmon said. “We want to give back to the community.”

Local Arby's owner Charlie Harmon donated $3,000 to Safford High School athletics Friday morning. Standing at the check presentation, from left, are Safford Athletic Director Joe Burnside, Safford Principal Rich DeRidder, Arby's manager Jim Gardner, Harmon and Arby's VP of Operations Jay Johnson. Photo by Brian Wright

Harmon said donating money to schools where he opens a new restaurant is something he does regularly.

Johnson, however, came up with a new idea for recognizing the efforts of Safford High School students.

Each month, a Student of the Month will be nominated by teachers at Safford. The winner will receive six free combo meals at Arby’s — one for the winner and five others for friends or family of the winner.

The Student of the Month will also get a pass for a premium parking spot at the school for a month.

“That says a lot about what their commitment really is to the community,” DeRidder said. “They want to come into the community and make it a better place.”

Burnside and DeRidder also lobbied to have an Educator of the Month, and Harmon and Johnson agreed. That winner will also receive six free combo meals at Arby’s.

Winners will be announced in the school newsletter and at games.

Some of the criteria for the Student of the Month includes: a student/athlete who demonstrates good character and principles of pursuing victory with honor and a GPA of 2.5 or higher.

DeRidder said the $3,000 will go in a fund for a variety of uses, which could include motel rooms and food for athletes on road trips or repairs needed to any of the athletic facilities, among other things.