On June 22, MAD Greens opened the doors to its tenth location and raised $3,100 for two worthy causes.
The 2,000-square-foot restaurant, located in Denver in the newly built plaza on the northwest corner of the intersection at S. Colorado Blvd. and E. Evans Avenue, seats 50 indoors and 50 on its outdoor patio. The new restaurant comes just one month after the opening of MAD Greens ninth location in Fort Collins, Colorado.
“When we opened our first location five years ago, we knew Denver would embrace fresh, natural foods to fuel their healthy lifestyle,” says Marley Hodgson, CEO of MAD Greens. “It feels good to give back to the people that give us so much.”
To open its location at 2073 S. Colorado Blvd., MAD Greens sponsored two fundraising events. On June 21, the popular restaurant group donated 100 percent of proceeds during a dinner event to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Staff, volunteers and families affiliated with the Foundation came from as far away as Erie, Colorado Springs, and Fort Collins to attend the event, which raised $1,500 to support the foundation’s commitment to vital cystic fibrosis research and care.
On June 22, MAD Greens used its popular Free Salad Day to spread the word that its neighbor, Schlessman Family YMCA, was in need of school supplies and cash donations to fund its Strong Kids Campaign, which provides financial support to low income families so they can take part in YMCA programs such as summer day camp, preschool, youth sports, swim lessons, or a YMCA family membership.
Nearly 700 MAD Greens customers took advantage of the free salads – and gave generously to the Schlessman Family YMCA’s Strong Kids Campaign. YMCA staff and volunteers filled a pick-up truck with school supplies, to be used in fall after-school programs, and received $1,600 in cash donations.
“We are so thankful to MAD Greens, their customers, and our generous community,” says Neil Alderson, executive director of the Schlessman Family YMCA. “These funds will really help families in need this fall and throughout our program year.”
MAD Greens opened its first location in December, 2004. Since then the restaurant group has added locations throughout Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins and donated thousands of dollars, food, and manpower to nonprofits and causes in its communities. The group anticipates opening its 11th location in early 2011.
“Community events are the highlight of our work,” says Marley Hodgson, MAD Greens’ CEO. “And the word is spreading. With each new opening, we raise more and more funds for worthy causes.”
