| For Immediate Release |
Contact: Adriane De Ceuninck
|
March 5, 2013
|
(517) 482-5244 |
MICHIGAN RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES
WINNERS OF PHILANTHROPY AWARD
LANSING, MI – The Michigan Restaurant Association (MRA) today announced the state winners for the annual Restaurant Neighbor Award and Cornerstone Humanitarian of the Year. The awards, created by the National Restaurant Association, honor restaurants and individuals for their commitment to community service and innovative community projects.
The state winner of the Restaurant Neighbor Award for Michigan is Buddy’s Pizza in Farmington Hills. The winner of the Cornerstone Humanitarian of the Year award is Dan Verhil of One Trick Pony Grill & Taproom and The Cottage Bar, both located in Grand Rapids.
The Restaurant Neighbor Award honors charitable contributions of restaurants and restaurateurs. The Michigan winner will contend with winners from other states and be eligible for the national awards. The grand prize winners will be announced at the National Restaurant Association’s Public Affairs Conference in Washington, DC, held in April. National grand prize winners will each receive $5,000 to support and continue their community efforts.
The Cornerstone Humanitarian of the Year Award honors an individual restaurateur who goes above and beyond in community service and aims to inspire other restaurateurs to get or stay involved in their local communities.
“Our Michigan winners are proof that the charitable acts of one business can have a huge impact on a community,” said Brian DeBano, MRA president and chief executive officer.
Buddy’s Pizza joined forces with the Alliance for the Great Lakes to help further its mission to conserve and restore the five freshwater lakes through education, policy, and citizen involvement. Buddy’s Pizza unveiled its first Made in Michigan Great Lakes Pizza Collection in June 2012. For each pizza sold from this collection, Buddy’s donated $1 to the Alliance for the Great Lakes – for a total donation of $6,000.
As owner of The Cottage Bar and One Trick Pony Grill & Taproom, Dan Verhil started the Cottage Bar’s Annual Chili Cook-Off, which has raised more than $145,000 for Gilda’s Club over the past 31 years. In addition, the “Hat Trick Series” held at the One Trick Pony Grill & Taproom, has rasied more than $75,000 over 10 years for a variety of Grand Rapids-area charities. Verhil also supports numerous other organizations.
A profile of each state winner’s community involvement will be highlighted in a booklet that the National Restaurant Association will distribute in the fall, as well as on the association’s website, www.restaurant.org/community.
The Michigan Restaurant Association (MRA) is the recognized leader of Michigan's hospitality industry, providing essential services to the foodservice community. Founded in 1921, the MRA represents nearly 4,500 Michigan foodservice establishments. The industry plays an integral role in Michigan's economy, employing more than 390,000 people and creating more than $13.1 billion in annual sales.
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