News & Information
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| For Immediate Release |
Contact: Andy Deloney |
May 21, 2007
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517/377-3931 |
MRA urges restaurants to apply for 2007
Restaurant Neighbor Award
LANSING – Calling all community-minded restaurant and tavern operators in Michigan!
Michigan Restaurant Association
(MRA) president and chief executive officer Rob Gifford is urging members to
apply for the seventh annual Restaurant Neighbor Award. The program was created by the National
Restaurant Association to honor restaurants for their commitment to community
service and innovative community projects and to underscore that restaurants
are the cornerstone of local communities.
“From feeding the hungry to
mentoring youth to raising money for national organizations, restaurants are,
and always have been, an essential part of communities across Michigan,” said
Gifford. “We are pleased to recognize
their extraordinary efforts via the Restaurant Neighbor Award. I strongly encourage restaurants to apply for
the award and share their inspiring projects with us.”
“We created the Restaurant
Neighbor Award to reward the countless charitable efforts restaurants make each
day in their local communities and for national organizations,” said National
Restaurant Association acting interim president and chief executive officer
Peter Kilgore. “Nine out of ten
restaurants are involved in some type of charitable activity, and we aim to
bring these philanthropists to the forefront and honor them for their
generosity and inspiration.”
Restaurant patrons, community
activists, restaurateurs and any other member of the community may work with a
local restaurant to apply for the award by contacting Andy Deloney at the MRA
at (800) 968-9668. More information on
the award program, as well as the application or nomination forms, is available
on the National Restaurant Association’s website, www.restaurant.org/community.
State restaurant association
winners chosen by each state restaurant and hospitality will be eligible for
two national awards and the Cornerstone Humanitarian of the Year award. Each national winner will receive a $5,000
award to help the company continue its community programs. In addition, the three national winners will
receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington,
DC, for the awards ceremony
during the National Restaurant Association’s Public Affairs Conference, held
September 25-26, 2007. The national winners and all state winners will be
recognized in a booklet and on the National Restaurant Association Web site
highlighting their community service activities.
Last year, Billy Downs, founder
of bd’s Mongolian Barbeque, headquartered in Ferndale,
MI, was the winner of the national Cornerstone
Humanitarian of the Year Award for his incredible philanthropic work in the
country of Mongolia.
The deadline to apply for the award is June 15, 2007.
The National Restaurant Association and founding partner
American Express developed the Restaurant Neighbor Award to raise awareness
about the restaurant industry’s contributions in local communities across the
country and to inspire other restaurant operators and owners to make even
greater contributions in their communities.
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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