Share Our Strength, the nonprofit aiming to end childhood hunger in America through its No Kid Hungry campaign, announced the appointment of two restaurant industry leaders to its Dine Out For No Kid Hungry advisory board. George W. McKerrow, CEO of Ted’s Montana Grill, and John C. Miller, CEO and president of Denny’s Corporation, will lead the 30-member board in providing strategic direction around the program, as well as broadening awareness within the restaurant industry of childhood hunger and the solutions provided by No Kid Hungry. Miller and McKerrow will each serve a one-year term.
This September, 8,855 restaurants across the U.S. raised more than $7.5 million during the annual program. The funds support programs that are reaching and feeding children in need in communities across the U.S.
“We’re thrilled to have these two seasoned restaurant executives at the helm of our Dine Out Advisory Board for next year,” says Debbie Shore, co-founder of Share Our Strength. “They’ve led by example with their companies, leveraging their voices and leadership every step of the way. That’s a winning combination and one we believe will make a significant difference leading this effort nationally.”
“Childhood hunger is the foodservice industry’s issue to solve,” Miller says. “We’re the experts at creating dining experiences and feeding our customers every day. We can pull together as an industry and take care of our nation’s kids.”
A 40-year restaurant industry veteran, Miller is the strategic vision behind Denny’s. He joined the company in 2011 after serving as CEO for Taco Bueno and spending more than 17 years with Brinker International. Denny’s operates more than 1,680 franchised, licensed, and company-owned restaurants in the U.S. and 12 other countries.
McKerrow is a 40-year restaurant veteran in both fine and casual dining. He opened his first LongHorn Steakhouse in Atlanta in 1981, eventually selling to Darden Restaurants in 2007. In the mid-90s, he co-founded the restaurant group We’re Cookin’ Inc., which now operates two fine-dining restaurants in Atlanta. In 2002, with partner Ted Turner, McKerrow founded Ted’s Montana Grill. The chain operates 54 locations in 19 states.
“More than 16 million kids struggle with hunger in this country and that’s completely unacceptable,” McKerrow says. “The No Kid Hungry campaign is getting kids aligned with the nutritious foods they need at school, home and play. We couldn’t be happier to support this cause and encourage our peers to do so in a big way.”
