A web site, www.dineforamerica.org, will be launched on Thursday, September 8th, where participating restaurants—independent operators and national chains, table-service and quick-service—can choose from a menu of options on how they would like to participate. Additionally, turnkey marketing and promotional materials including posters, tray liners, table tents, and artwork for donation canisters will be available for participating restaurants.Restaurants interested in participating should go to www.restaurant.org for more information.
Operators can donate all or part of their sales or proceeds on October 5, make a donation for each guest served, make a donation for each sale of a specific item, or make a donation of a set amount. One hundred percent of the funds raised will go to the hurricane victims and their families via the Red Cross.
“In 2001, Dine for America mobilized more than 8,000 restaurants and raised more than $20 million,” says association President and Chief Executive Officer Steven C. Anderson. “We hope to exceed that goal with this effort. Restaurants are the cornerstone of local communities across the nation and that is especially evident in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the lives, homes, and businesses of millions of Americans.”
“This is an opportunity for the industry to come together for a common cause and help our neighbors in the South in a time of desperate need. While short-term relief efforts are ongoing, the long-term effects are yet to be known and the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast region will take a long time. Not only do these Americans need help today, but they will need help throughout the fall,” says Steve Stoddard, CEO, Restaurants Unlimited, Inc.
