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On Jan. 8, the 500+ McDonald’s restaurants across New England will celebrate the people who have helped shape the brand for decades. It’s the first ever “1 in 8 Day,” named for the 1 in 8 Americans who have worked at a McDonald’s. This means that nearly every family, neighborhood, or workplace includes someone who once put on the uniform, worked a lunch rush, or mastered the art of the friendly, “Hi, welcome to McDonald’s!”
1 in 8 Day is more than a moment; it is a reminder of opportunity — a celebration of McDonald’s truly being a people-first business and proof that investing in employees and opening paths to new skills can change the course of a future. Behind every order and every shift are stories that show how McDonald’s invests deeply in their crew’s growth and future.
For Connecticut McDonald’s Owner/Operator Sara Amato, the dream started early. As a young girl, she told her mother she wanted to work at McDonald’s. Most childhood dreams fade. Hers didn’t.
Amato started as a crew member just after graduating from Fordham University and worked her way through every level of the restaurant before becoming an Owner/Operator in 2021. Today, she owns and operates six McDonald’s restaurants — a true embodiment of the 1 in 8 spirit.
Amato prides herself on building a workplace where her team feels valued and supported. This includes their growth both within the restaurant and outside of it. Amato is a huge supporter of Archways to Opportunity, a comprehensive education program that gives McDonald’s employees the chance to earn a high school diploma, career coaching, work toward a college degree with free tuition, or improve their English language skills. This year alone, local McDonald’s Owner/Operators across New England have awarded over $750,000 to more than 300 participating employees.
“I started at McDonald’s with big dreams, lofty goals, and people who believed in me,” Amato says. “I now get to be that person for my crew. To be able to support these talented and hardworking individuals and offer programs like Archways to Opportunity to them is one of the best parts of the job.”
Multiple members of Amato’s team have taken advantage of Archways to Opportunity, two of which are graduating this spring from the University of Connecticut.
Born and raised in New Haven, Conn., Nina and Shelagh Laverty started working at Amato’s McDonald’s restaurant in Branford, Conn., at 16 years old. Their parents insisted on two things: get an education and work hard. So, the sisters applied together at their local McDonald’s and discovered far more than just a part-time job.
“McDonald’s has absolutely shaped us into who we are today,” says Nina Laverty of herself and her twin sister, Shelagh, who are both graduating from UConn in May. “The job has taught us how to multitask, how to communicate with anyone from all walks of life, and how to be responsible and organized. We credit almost every bit of our success to the Golden Arches.”
“McDonald’s has absolutely shaped us into who we are today. The job has taught us how to multitask, how to communicate with anyone from all walks of life, and how to be responsible and organized. We credit almost every bit of our success to the Golden Arches.” — Nina Laverty
Archways to Opportunity, powered by EdAssist, is helping the sisters pay for college. Nina Laverty is planning to become a pediatric speech language pathologist and Shelagh Laverty hopes to land a position at a marketing and communications firm post-graduation.
“Archways to Opportunity has been an incredible blessing,” says Shelagh Laverty. “It was such a relief for me, my sister, and our parents to have that financial support. We owe so much to McDonald’s for the opportunities we’ve been given.”
Further north in New Hampshire, The Napoli Group, owned and operated by father and son duo, Peter and Sal Napoli, is another powerful example of what happens when McDonald’s invests in its people. Sal Napoli, a 1 in 8er himself, has built a culture of care within the restaurants, where opportunity is encouraged and education is celebrated.
Few stories illustrate this better than that of Alex Costantini, general manager of The Napoli Group’s restaurant in Exeter.
Born and raised in Hudson, N.H., Costantini’s first real job was at McDonald’s. In school, he struggled with organization and communication. After just a few short months at McDonald’s, Costantini found structure and a team that believed in him. He learned to communicate with clarity, strategize, and become a leader.
After high school graduation, college seemed out of reach for Costantini. Through Archways to Opportunity, however, Costantini discovered it was attainable. He enrolled in Colorado Technical University, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business management through the flexible online program. Now, he is set to graduate this February — something he once never thought would be possible.
“We are incredibly proud of Alex, and of all of our employees who take advantage of Archways to Opportunity,” says Sal Napoli. “Whether their dreams are to stay within our organization or go off to another career, we are just so happy to be part of their journey, offering them the tools to develop foundational skills that they can take with them anywhere.”
Costantini’s two brothers, Josh and Ben, also work for The Napoli Group, and took advantage of Archways to Opportunity.
“My brothers and I are so grateful for the opportunities we’ve been given through McDonald’s,” Costantini says. “From free tuition to the environment that McDonald’s fosters, it’s an amazing place to work, no matter your age, your schedule, or where you are at in life.” Costantini became the general manager of the Exeter restaurant in 2023. His goal is to work toward becoming a supervisor, where he’ll be responsible for the success of multiple restaurants within The Napoli Group.
Across New England, there are thousands of stories that show McDonald’s is a place where people can grow, succeed, and achieve their dreams. Some employees stay and build lifelong careers like Costantini, while others move on to new opportunities like the Laverty sisters plan to do post-graduation, carrying forward the skills they learned under the Golden Arches.
1 in 8 Day honors everyone who has helped make McDonald’s part of American life. To celebrate, the local McDonald’s Owner/Operators across New England are offering a one day, $1.08 cheeseburger deal to local app users* on Jan. 8.
This is the meaning of 1 in 8 Day, recognizing the retirees who hand a Happy Meal to busy moms at noon, to the students working late-night shifts between classes, as well as the local Owner/Operators who believe deeply in creating opportunities for the next generation. Wherever you are in your life, you can find a meaningful career at McDonald’s. Learn more at jobs.mchire.com.
* Valid 1x/day only in the McDonald’s app. At Participating McDonald’s. Must opt into rewards. Most McDonald’s restaurants are owned and operated by independent franchisees. At franchised restaurants, the independent franchisee is the sole and exclusive employer of all restaurant employees – the franchisee alone sets all terms and conditions of employment, establishes all employment policies and practices, and is solely responsible for all employment-related matters in the restaurant.
Sponsored by McDonalds
Running with purpose: McDonald’s New England owner/operator Sal Napoli’s million-dollar mission for families in need
“Taking that financial burden off families so they can focus on what really matters is what drives me.”
