Class-101 Dayton was recognized with the first Community Impact Award from the Unleashed Brands Foundation at the Unleashed Brands annual convention in Fort Worth, Texas, in May. From more than 1200 franchise locations nationally, Class 101-Dayton was chosen for this honor because of actively engaging in service as well as creating and implementing service opportunities for their students. 

“This is an award we share with our students,” said Karen Lane Derosa, Class 101 Owner, “especially the student volunteers who have led or served with our More Than One interscholastic community service club.” In its first year, More Than One volunteered at a local park, ran a route for Avenue of Flags, helped teachers prepare classrooms at an elementary school, led a Toys for Tots drive, and collected more than 1400 books and donated them to an after school program in Dayton. In addition, Class 101-Dayton students made more than 80 Class 101 Teddy Bears. These bears were donated to Safe on Main, The Dakota Center, Beech Acres Parenting Center, and Toys for Toys. With these efforts, Class 101-Dayton students also won a national contest which led to a donation of $3,000 to Shoes 4 the Shoeless from the Unleashed Brands Foundation.

The DeRosas opened the first Class 101 in the Miami Valley in August 2018, and it quickly became one of the top performing locations in the nation. With the Community Impact Award, Class 101 Dayton is the first Class 101 in the history of the brand to receive six consecutive national awards. 

2019 Class 101 Rookie of the Year Award 
2020 National Growth Award
2021 Franchise of the Year 
2022 President’s Club 
2023 President’s Club and Franchise of the Year 
2024 President’s Club 
2025 President’s Club Award and the Unleashed Brands Foundation Community Impact Award 

Photo: Among several service projects, students at Class 101-Dayton made more than 80 stuffed bears that have been donated to Safe on Main, The Dakota Center, Beech Acres Parenting Center, and Toys for Toys.