To commemorate the 10th anniversary of Ted’s Montana Grill restaurants, the company, led by Ted Turner and George McKerrow, announced today that it has made a historic pledge to raise $150,000 in 2012 for Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry™ campaign to help end childhood hunger in America.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Ted’s Montana Grill was founded in 2002 and opened its first restaurant that year in Columbus, Ohio. Today, the restaurant company has 44 restaurants operating in 16 states.
The No Kid Hungry fundraising effort kicks off today in all 44 Ted’s Montana Grill restaurants. For every guest donation of $2 or more, now through April 8, the restaurants will give each guest a special Ted’s $2 bill good toward their next visit. The company is planning a second phase of the fundraising campaign for this summer, and in September it will join Share Our Strength’s Dine Out For No Kid Hungry™, a national program that involves thousands of restaurants around the country in raising funds to support No Kid Hungry. Last year, the campaign raised nearly $2.4 million.
“Ten years ago when we first opened our doors, we set out to create a restaurant experience that captured the spirit and hospitality of the Great American West,” said co-founder McKerrow, who also serves as the company’s CEO. “As our 10th anniversary neared, we wanted to share our ‘Big Sky Spirit’ by celebrating in a really special way, and do something that would have a lasting impact on future generations. We found the ideal partner in No Kid Hungry, a cause we’ve supported in smaller ways for the last several years.”
“Our team members have taken the No Kid Hungry Pledge to end childhood hunger in America, and we encourage our supporters and guests to visit NoKidHungry.org and join us in this important effort,” he added.
Over the course of a year, more than 16 million children in America cannot count on having enough nutritious food. That’s one in five kids in this country struggling with hunger. The No Kid Hungry campaign catalyzes innovative coalitions among governors, mayors, businesses, chefs, teachers and community leaders across the country to connect families at risk of hunger with the programs that can help them. No Kid Hungry also combines access with education by teaching families how to cook healthy, affordable meals through the Cooking Matters® program. According to Share Our Strength, every $1 donation connects a child to 10 meals.
“We’re so proud to partner with Ted’s Montana Grill for their 10th anniversary year and help them celebrate in such a worthy way,” said Share Our Strength Founder and CEO Bill Shore. “They are truly a role model for others and their support will help make a difference in the lives of thousands of children across this country.”
Ted’s Montana Grill was co-founded in 2002 by Ted Turner, the media entrepreneur, environmentalist and philanthropist, and award-winning restaurateur George McKerrow. Its restaurants are inspired by the Old West and a simpler time, when saloons served authentic food and drink to everyone, from cowboys to land barons, and genuine hospitality was a virtue. Ted’s is known for its time-honored American favorites, made 100% fresh, hand-prepared and served with pride – from traditional comfort food to signature bison dishes and more. Established by Turner in part to help bring bison back to America’s Table, the company has created greater market demand for bison and Turner has been lauded for preserving this great American species. Ted’s Montana Grill also has been recognized for its environmental practices, which include energy-savings measures such as the use of high-efficiency equipment, water conservation measures, paper straws, low-voltage lighting, use of recycled and recyclable materials, a companywide recycling program, solar lighting in some restaurants, and all aluminum and glass products. Visit http://www.tedsmontanagrill.com for additional information, or find Ted’s on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/tedsmontanagrill. Ted’s Montana Grill headquarters are at 133 Luckie St., Atlanta, GA 30303.
