National Restaurant Association Announces 2003 Restaurant Award Winners 9/16/2003
From: Katharine Kim or Tom Foulkes, 202-331-5944 e-mail: media@dineout.org, both of the National Restaurant Association; web: http://www.restaurant.org WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 -- Underscoring that restaurants are the cornerstone of community service, the National Restaurant Association today announced the winners of the fifth annual Restaurant Neighbor Award during its Public Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C. The prestigious national award honors restaurants that go above and beyond in community service and aims to inspire other restaurateurs to get or stay involved in their local communities. "Whether sponsoring youth sports teams, raising money for charities or fighting hunger, active community involvement helps tie communities together and make neighborhoods better places to live and work," said Steven C. Anderson, Association president and chief executive officer. "We created the Restaurant Neighbor Award to recognize these efforts on a national level and to raise awareness of how widespread philanthropy is in the restaurant industry." "This year's winners-Anthony's Restaurants, Charlie Trotter's, and Van Eure-exemplify the industry's longstanding commitment to community service. Nine out of 10 restaurants nationwide participate in community service activities. The efforts and devotion of this year's Restaurant Neighbor Award winners are prime examples of the spirit of giving common among restaurateurs, and we applaud and commend their efforts," Anderson said. Two restaurants from each participating state were selected to compete for the national Restaurant Neighbor Award (multi-unit and single-unit categories) and the Cornerstone Humanitarian of the Year, which is awarded to an individual who is an exemplary model of one who is personally dedicated to community service. The three national winners each received $5,000 to help the restaurant continue its community programs. A profile of the community-service efforts of each national and state winner will be highlighted in a booklet, as well as on the Association's Web site, http://www.restaurant.org/community. American Express is the founding partner of the program. "American Express is pleased to recognize the generosity of restaurants throughout America by sponsoring the National Restaurant Association's Restaurant Neighbor Award for the fifth year," said Scott R. Feldman, vice president, Industry Relations and Strategy, American Express. "Everyday, restaurants open their doors to members of their community for purposes other than serving great meals-they assist, encourage and support those in need, in their own neighborhoods and nationwide, and serve as community leaders in organizing charity projects and events-and we are thrilled to support their tireless work." The winners of the 2003 Restaurant Neighbor Award are: -- Multi-Unit Winner -- Anthony's Restaurants, Bellevue, Wash. Each year, Anthony's 18 restaurants find special ways to give back to their local communities. For more than 30 years, each restaurant supports a charitable project chosen for their local communities, including the Oyster Olympics, which helped the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance; the Epicurean Affair, which benefited the Providence General Hospital Foundation; and Bayside Brunch, which helped the Des Moines Legacy Foundation. From donating use of banquet rooms, to volunteering as chefs and servers, to underwriting major scholarships, Anthony's and its employees have made community service part of their everyday work. Anthony's latest collaboration is with the Moyer Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by Seattle Mariners pitcher Jamie Moyer and his wife, Karen. Anthony's Pier 66 restaurant in Seattle hosted the annual Mojo the Coho Luncheon, which raised more than $25,000 for the Foundation. In addition, Anthony's donated space, food and other services to help raise $55,000 at the Jamie Moyer Roast Luncheon. -- Single-Unit Winner -- Charlie Trotter's, Chicago, Ill. The Charlie Trotter's Culinary Education Foundation was founded by the chef and restaurateur after whom it is named to help young people succeed in the culinary field by providing scholarships and other assistance to further their education in the culinary field. Fundraising dinners at the restaurant help support the program. In addition, Charlie Trotter's sponsors the Excellence Program, in which area students are regularly invited to the restaurant and have the opportunity to learn about the life of a restaurateur, hear the stories from the restaurant's staff, tour the kitchen and wine cellars, and soak up inspiration from Trotter himself. The students also enjoy a free eight-course meal at this critically-lauded restaurant in downtown Chicago. Over the past four years, Charlie Trotter's and the Excellence Program has hosted more than 8,000 students and raised more than $350,000 for the Foundation. -- Cornerstone Humanitarian of the Year -- Van Eure, FMP, the Angus Barn, Raleigh, N.C. The Thad Eure Walk for Hope was first instituted in 1988 by the Angus Barn's owner Van Eure to honor the memory of her father, Thad Eure-the restaurant's founder-and to raise funds for his Foundation of Hope for research and treatment of mental illness. The walk has inspired thousands of North Carolinians and helped raise more than $1.3 million for the Foundation. Nearly all of the Angus Barn's 200 employees are actively involved in organizing the walk, which annually draws 2,000 people from across the state. In addition to the Walk for Hope, Eure and the Angus Barn have been involved in community activities since the restaurant first opened in 1960. Recent outreach has included chairing the Toast to the Triangle event to benefit the Tammy Lynn Center for Development Disabilities, and a luncheon for police officers who raise funds for Special Olympics. For more information on Anthony's Restaurants, Charlie Trotter's, Van Eure, or the Restaurant Neighbor Award, please contact the National Restaurant Association at media@dineout.org or (202) 973-3677. --- The National Restaurant Association, founded in 1919, is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which is comprised of 870,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a work force of 11.7 million employees -- making it the cornerstone of the economy, career opportunities and community involvement. Along with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, the Association works to represent, educate and promote the rapidly growing industry. For more information, visit our Web site at http://www.restaurant.org | |