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| For Immediate Release |
Contact: Andy Deloney |
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July 19, 2006 |
517/377-3931 |
MICHIGAN RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF ANNUAL PHILANTHROPY AWARDS
LANSING, MI – The Michigan Restaurant Association (MRA) today announced three state winners for the eighth annual Restaurant Neighbor Award and Cornerstone Humanitarian Award. The program was created by the National Restaurant Association to honor restaurants’ commitment to community service and innovative community projects and to underscore that restaurants truly are the cornerstone of local communities.
The two winners of the Restaurant Neighbor Award are bd’s Mongolian Barbeque, headquartered in Ferndale, MI, in the large business category; and Zukey Lake Tavern, based in Pinckney, MI, in the small business category. The winner of the Cornerstone Humanitarian Award is Pronto!, which calls Royal Oak, MI home. They now will compete with winners from other states for the national awards to be presented in September.
“Each of these winners are prime examples of the generosity and philanthropy Michigan restaurants exhibit every day of the year in their communities,” said Rob Gifford, MRA executive director. “The Restaurant Neighbor Award and the Cornerstone Humanitarian Award recognize the driving force behind their involvement in community service. It is a great way to shine the spotlight on and honor the many things they do each day to make our communities better places to live and work.”
“Restaurants have long been true cornerstones of local communities across the country –in fact, nine out of 10 restaurants are involved in community service – and we are very pleased to recognize their efforts with our Restaurant Neighbor Award,” said National Restaurant Association President and Chief Executive Officer Steven C. Anderson. “Each year, we learn of new and innovative ways restaurants serve local communities across the nation, and I look forward to this year’s inspiring examples.”
The Restaurant Neighbor Award and Cornerstone Humanitarian Award honor charitable contributions of restaurants and restaurateurs. The Michigan winners will contend with winners from other states and be eligible for the national awards. One grand prize winner in each category will be announced at the National Restaurant Association’s Public Affairs Conference in Washington, DC, held September 11-12, 2006.
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 web site, www.restaurant.org/community.
Founded in 1921, the Michigan Restaurant Association represents more than 4,500 Michigan foodservice establishments. The foodservice industry plays an integral role in Michigan’s economy, employing more than 436,000 people and creating more than $11.3 billion in total annual sales. For more information, call (517) 482-5244.
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