FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Tuesday, July 15, 2003
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Susan Gordon, 202-331-5990, susan@ramw.org

THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON ANNOUNCES STATE WINNERS OF THE NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION’S 2003 RESTAURANT NEIGHBOR AWARD

Washington, DC – The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington today announced two state winners for the fifth annual Restaurant Neighbor Award—a national program established by the National Restaurant Association to honor and recognize restaurant operators who go above and beyond in supporting their communities—Glory Days Grill and Rocklands Barbecue and Grilling Company. These winners will now compete with other state winners for the national award.

“Glory Days Grill and Rocklands Barbecue and Grilling Company are extraordinary examples of the philanthropic spirit that is so prevalent in the metropolitan Washington restaurant industry, as well as in restaurants nationwide. I am pleased to announce that these establishments will represent our metropolitan area in the national Restaurant Neighbor Award,” said Lynne Breaux, RAMW Executive Director. “Restaurants provide havens of hospitality and places of sociability for our communities. Restaurateurs are known for their charitable predilections, giving of their time, energy and creativity, raising money and awareness for a myriad of special causes. RAMW is proud of all of our member’s charitable contributions. We are happy to honor these two establishments as state winners.”

“Philanthropy can help tie a community together, and nine out of 10 restaurants are involved in some type of charitable activity,” said National Restaurant Association President and Chief Executive Officer Steven C. Anderson. “We created the Restaurant Neighbor Award to shine the spotlight on restaurants that go above and beyond in service and giving, and to underscore that restaurants are truly the cornerstone of local communities. I wholeheartedly congratulate all state winners and wish them the best in the national contest.”

Community involvement is part of the core fabric of the Glory Days Grill concept and company culture. Each location is required to sponsor at least ten local sports teams per year. They also become involved in one or two significant fundraising projects annually. The largest Glory Days Grill company program is "Dining for Dollars". Created in 1997, “Dining for Dollars” is open to all organization seeking funds such as schools, religious organizations, and animal rescue groups. Glory Days Grill donates 10% of the participants’ total food bill to the organization. Anyone who eats on behalf of the organization during the specified time frame may donate his or her guest check to the cause. Glory Days Grill also have a program where 25% is donated to the cause. One such event took place in the spring of 2003 to raise funds to repair a local elementary school’s roof that had collapsed during the heavy snow storm and raised $1500 in one night. The entire staff works closely on promoting these events to the public. Last year, Glory Days Grill estimates raising at least $60,000 from their various company wide fundraising events.

Rocklands Barbecue and Grilling Company’s devotes their focus of charitable donations to organizations that help children. They have adopted a local shelter to donate on a regular basis. St. Luke's Shelter provides transitional housing for homeless men. Rocklands has participated with the shelter for over 8 years in numerous ways – on a regular basis feeding approximately 90 homeless men a year, donating food for functions and fundraisers for the shelter and they also contributed all proceeds, approximately $500, of their local neighborhood fair (Glover Park Day) to the shelter. Rocklands received a Bronze Partner in the Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Walk-a-thon by raising $2500 for St Luke's Shelter being their beneficiary. Their team consisted of the owner John Snedden, his wife and 12 staff members. Rocklands Barbecue and Grilling Company donates over $25,000 annually to various community projects through time, food donations, and labor. Snedden also serves on an advisory committee for a job training program for homeless people teaching job skills in food preparation

The Restaurant Neighbor Award honors charitable contributions of restaurants in two categories. The metropolitan Washington winners will contend with winners from other states and be eligible for the national award, as well as for the Cornerstone Humanitarian of the Year. One grand prize winner in each category will be announced at the National Restaurant Association’s Public Affairs Conference in Washington, DC this September. The three winners will each receive a $5,000 award to help the restaurant continue its community programs, and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, DC, to receive the award.

The National Restaurant Association developed the Restaurant Neighbor Award to recognize outstanding community programs in local communities across the country and to inspire other restaurant operators and owners to do what they can in their respective communities. American Express is the founding partner of the award program.

A profile of each state winner’s community involvement will be highlighted in a booklet that the National Restaurant Association will distribute in the fall, as well as on the Association’s Web site, www.restaurant.org/community.

For more information or to receive a copy of the booklet, contact the The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington at (202) 331-5990 or visit the National Restaurant Association’s Web site, www.restaurant.org/community.

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Established in 1920, the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington has more than 500 members, and is the voice of establishments ranging from casual eateries to internationally acclaimed fine dining restaurants.