SOS raises more than $5M to fight childhood hunger

More fundraising efforts

Employees of Joe’s Crab Shack and Brick House Tavern + Tap — part of Ignite Restaurant Group in Houston — raised in excess of $1 million for the program this year. A national partner and fundraiser for SOS, Joe’s has participated in the annual No Kid Hungry initiative since it began in 2008.


During September’s event Joe’s and Brick House offered customers the chance to donate in increments ranging from $1 to $10 in exchange for coupons redeemable for various menu items. Guests also were able to donate to the No Kid Hungry campaign by visiting both brands’ websites, where they received similar online coupons. 


“As a restaurant group and longtime partner with Share Our Strength, we are committed to supporting our nation’s children and the fight against childhood hunger,” said Joe’s chief operating officer Jim Mazany, the 2013 chair of the No Kid Hungry Advisory Board. “We want to thank our devoted customers who gave so generously to the effort and our employee teams who worked hard to spread the Share Our Strength message. Their dedication to No Kid Hungry’s goal of eliminating childhood hunger by 2015 is inspiring.”


Romano’s Macaroni Grill said it raised $300,000, surpassing its fundraising goal by 200 percent. 


“Our campaign to support No Kid Hungry exceeded all expectations,” said Romano’s Macaroni Grill CEO Norman Abdallah. “It rallied the nation to come together for an important cause, ultimately raising more than $300,000 and helping connect kids to as many as three million meals — triple what we had initially targeted.”


Other participants in the No Kid Hungry campaign were Bellizzi, Benchmarc Restaurants by Marc Murphy, Border Grill, Colore Italian Restaurant, Corner Bakery Cafe, Denny’s, Fuddruckers, La Madeleine, Legal Sea Foods, Magnolia’s Restaurant & Catering, Manito Tap House, Qdoba Mexican Grill, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, Shari’s Cafe & Pies, Ted’s Montana Grill, Togo’s and many others.


The money raised through No Kid Hungry is used to fund effective nutrition programs like the School Breakfast Program and summer meals programs, and to help eliminate barriers that prevent children from accessing programs like these and other existing food and nutrition resources, SOS said. 

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: Nov. 13, 2012 An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified Romano’s Macaroni Grill as a national sponsor of Dine Out for No Kid Hungry. The restaurant is a participant in the event.

Contact Paul Frumkin at paul.frumkin@penton.com.
Follow him on Twitter: @NRNPaul