The National Restaurant Association today announced that it is committing to work together with Share Our Strength to triple the funds raised for Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign through 2013, raising an incremental $5 million to end childhood hunger in the United States.
“The restaurant industry has always been committed to fighting hunger and improving the well-being of our nation’s children,” said National Restaurant Association President and CEO Dawn Sweeney. “America’s restaurants are cornerstones of local communities—more than nine out of 10 restaurants are actively involved in charitable causes, including the No Kid Hungry campaign.”
Through increased and targeted outreach to member restaurants, the National Restaurant Association intends to increase restaurant participation in the Dine Out For No Kid Hungry campaign, of which the Association has been a longtime supporter. Every September, thousands of restaurants across the U.S. employ creative fundraising techniques to engage their employees and customers in the No Kid Hungry campaign. The program raised $2.4 million in 2011; the National Restaurant Association aims to help grow the program’s proceeds by $5 million by the end of 2013, tripling the total funds raised for the campaign.
“Restaurants and chefs have been the backbone of our organization since its founding in 1984, and the National Restaurant Association’s commitment to the No Kid Hungry campaign takes this partnership to new levels,” said Share Our Strength Co-Founder Debbie Shore. “Participating restaurants tell us that Dine Out For No Kid Hungry is good for their business as well as their community, and that it’s a cause their customers and employees understand and embrace. This is why we believe the program has such tremendous growth potential, and why the support of the National Restaurant Association and its members is so absolutely critical.”
“Dine Out For No Kid Hungry is a flexible program that can be customized for any restaurant, from national and regional multi-unit companies, to independently operated local restaurants, and franchised establishments,” added Sweeney. “The program offers participation options beyond just writing a check, or hosting a fundraising dinner. It gives every employee a part to play, and invites patrons to join in as well.”
A recent National Restaurant Association report highlights that the industry’s combined charitable contributions come close to $3 billion annually in resources, fundraising and in-kind services. Share Our Strength estimates that since its inception in 1984, restaurants and their chefs have helped raise nearly $100 million to help the organization make sure no child goes hungry.
Share Our Strength, a national nonprofit, is ending childhood hunger in America by connecting children with the nutritious food they need to lead healthy, active lives. Through its No Kid Hungry campaign—a national effort to end childhood hunger in America—Share Our Strength ensures children in need are enrolled in effective federal nutrition programs; invests in community organizations fighting hunger; teaches families how to cook healthy, affordable meals; and builds public-private partnerships to end childhood hunger, at the state and city level. Working closely with the culinary industry and relying on the strength of its volunteers, Share Our Strength hosts innovative culinary fundraising events and develops pioneering cause marketing campaigns that support No Kid Hungry. Visit Strength.org.
Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises 970,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of nearly 13 million employees. We represent the industry in Washington, D.C., and advocate on its behalf. We operate the industry’s largest trade show (NRA Show May 5-8, 2012, in Chicago); leading food safety training and certification program (ServSafe); unique career-building high school program (the NRAEF’s ProStart, including the National ProStart Invitational April 27-29, 2012, in Baltimore, Md.); as well as the Kids LiveWell program promoting healthful kids’ menu options. For more information, visit www.restaurant.org and find us on Twitter @WeRRestaurants, Facebook and YouTube.
