Stories on the Charitable Efforts of Wisconsin Restaurants
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Red Mill Supper Club donates thousands to area organizations
Don Thompson, owner of the Red Mill Supper Club in Stevens Point, took an interesting approach to raise money for area non-profit organizations. The restaurant offered a gift card promotion, where the organizations could buy $20 in gift cards for half-price ($10) and then sell the gift cards for $15 to raise funds for their cause.
Four organizations in the restaurant’s area participated in the promotion: Trinity Lutheran Church in Stevens Point, Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church and J.F. Kennedy PTO in Junction City and Saint Bartholomew’s Parish in the Town of Carson.
In total, the Red Mill Supper Club donated $3,700 as a result of community participation in the promotion. The Red Mill has also made donations throughout the year to: Boys & Girls Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters, SPACS, Children’s Medical Research, Project Graduation, Kids from Wisconsin, churches and numerous benefits for those suffering loss &/or illness.
“This was a brand new concept that was a win-win.” said Thompson. “The Red Mill was able to help worthy community causes, while increasing the public’s awareness of the restaurant.” |
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LongHorn Steakhouse in Madison (part of Darden Restaurants)
Darden Restaurants, Inc. supports organizations that positively impact the educational prospects of underserved youth, ages 14 to 18, by providing them with access to the information and tools they need to pursue their dreams of higher education. To reach that goal, the Darden Foundation, the charitable arm of Darden Restaurants, is awarding more than $1.7 million to nearly 900 nonprofit organizations across the nation in 2012 as part of its inaugural Darden Restaurants Community Grants Program. Each of Darden’s 1,900+ restaurants has the opportunity to help award a $1,000 grant to a nonprofit organization in its local community.
In June of 2012, Madison’s LongHorn Steakhouse awarded the WRA Education Foundation with a $1,000 grant for the Wisconsin ProStart® program. The ProStart program brings together the industry and the classroom to give the students an opportunity to discover new interests and talents to open doors for fulfilling careers. It happens through a curriculum that includes all facets of the industry, and sets a high standard of excellence for students and the industry. The Wisconsin ProStart program reaches over 80 schools and over 4000 students.
"Each grant is more than a check – it is a defining opportunity for our restaurant teams to enhance their community and strengthen relationships with nonprofit organizations doing important work in every community we serve," said Drew Madsen, president and chief operating officer of Darden Restaurants, Inc.
In celebration of both organizations’ commitment to education, the WRA Education Foundation and Longhorn Steakhouse partnered on a teacher appreciation event. At that event, local Wisconsin teachers were honored with an early dinner and tour of the restaurant facility to thank them for all of the work they have put forth over the past year. |
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Maxsells Restaurant in Florence
In 2010, the owner of Maxsells, Rachel Egelseer, was voted "Citizen of the Year" for Florence County for her efforts to beautify and revitalize Florence. She has worked to restore more than ten buildings on Main Street, making the town more appealing for businesses and visitors alike. By making use of existing downtown buildings, Egelseer is not only cleaning up eyesores, she is helping to create a small business incubator. Currently, space is donated to the county Historical Society and minimal rent is charged to tenants including a small bakery, chiropractor, beautician, attorneys and an insurance office.
One of the renovations Egelseer is part of is the restoration of a large ballroom. Encore on Central is the site of many community events, including the annual Fireman’s Ball – an event that is probably closest to Egelseer’s heart. Years ago, during another historic renovation project, a 100 year old building went up in flames and would have been lost if not for the bravery of a firefighter who went up the winding staircase and contained the fire to the second floor. The Fireman’s Ball offers the Florence community a great social event and raises needed dollars for the local volunteer firefighting company – a program that actually has a waiting list to get on the department. The Fireman’s Ball event typically clears a profit of close to $6,000 to help with equipment and educational certifications. Egelseer says “we feel honored to help them.” |
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Cougar Enterprises, Inc. (Hardee’s) of Medford
Cougar Enterprises, with three Hardee’s locations, is a proud supporter of The Highground in Neillsville. The Highground Veteran’s Memorial Park is a place veterans, military families and the general public can gather to honor those who serve our country, learn about past wars and find comfort and healing. Located near one of the Hardee’s owned by Mary and Al Williams, it features statues, memorials, walking trails, a learning center and special events like fireworks.
For four years Cougar Enterprises has held a special event in July selling food and offering prize drawings to benefit The Highground. Additionally, star icons are sold in all of their locations several times a year with proceeds donated to The Highground and “share nights’” with a portion of restaurant sales going to the cause. In-kind food donations are provided to volunteers who work cleaning up the grounds each spring.
Staff loves to participate in The Highground fundraising, particularly the celebration night in July. Satisfaction comes to the Williams and their team of employees not just from raising thousands for a worthy cause but sharing in the sentiment. The marketing director for Cougar Enterprises, Colleen Sayre, described it as “it just gives everyone a great feeling that they were able to help in some way and give back.” The business also supports local VFWs, community non-profits and the local chamber of commerce. |
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Cousins Subs based in Menomonee Falls
While Cousins Subs supports a number of community projects through clever and effective fundraising strategies – like the popular Moo-la-palooza annual mooing contest which raises money for Wisconsin 4-H groups or a coupon program to encourage guests to donate to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night cause – their relationship with Special Olympics Wisconsin is particularly significant. Over the seven years that Cousins has been involved, the level of their participation has grown.
In 2011, Cousins Subs provide nearly 4,000 Special Olympics athletes and volunteers with healthy meals at tournaments around the state. In 2012, 30 stores in Wisconsin are participating in local Polar Plunges (fundraising teams jump into freezing water each February.) Leading up to the plunge events, the locations each hold a month long campaign selling icons to customers – raising both funds and awareness for the cause. Regional directors at Special Olympics Wisconsin remarked “if you are looking to reward a restaurant that cares a great deal about community involvement and has creative ideas for marketing potential and increasing the awareness of community fundraising events, Cousins Subs ranks high on the list.” |
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Himal Chuli in Madison
Krishna Pradhan moved to Madison in 1972 from his native Nepal to teach the Nepali language at the UW-Madison. He decided to pursue his PhD and brought his wife and four children to join him. They frequently entertained friends and co-workers who became enamored with their Himalayan cuisine and encouraged them to open a restaurant. Their first foray into the industry was a food cart on the UW Library Mall which was followed by the opening of Himal Chuli on State Street in 1986. The first Himalayan restaurant in the United States, it remains a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.
Because of their continued success of Himal Chuli, the Pradhans have been able to regularly make donations to various community organizations such as the Rape Crisis Center, the Access Health Organization, the Social Justice Center, the Madison Public Library and the State Historical Society. But, they believe their biggest impact has been on the student community. Over the years, they have employed hundreds of students and while they realize they would not have survived without their help, they strive to teach them the importance of hard work, cleanliness, discipline, punctuality and service. Himal Chuli also donates meals to special events around town, as well as supporting schools and small businesses back in Nepal. |
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The Buckhorn Supper Club in Milton
With the economic downturn affecting funding for school sports programs at the high school in Edgerton, the Buckhorn Supper Club has taken up the mantle, providing some $30,000 a year to keep the school's spring and summer baseball teams in uniforms and equipment. The money also pays for other expenses and awards relating to the program. The restaurant raises the much-needed funds through its All Edgerton Baseball Chicken Dinner at the Buckhorn Supper Club, which it began hosting in 2002. The funds are collected from ticket sales to the dinner and a raffle held during the event. More than 600 people attend the dinner, which is held in March.
In addition to aiding Edgerton High School, Buckhorn's owners, Chico and Dawn Pope, also support the culinary program at Blackhawk Technical College. Every year they host an event benefiting the school's scholarship fund, which provides monies for students to travel to renowned restaurants around the world. The Popes further invest themselves by offering internships at their restaurant to Blackhawk Technical College students. Eight students have won the much-coveted internships at Buckhorn so far.
Chico has also been a strong proponent of the ProStart® program, working hard to find a local ProStart school (Parkview High School in Orfordville) a talented mentor for their competition team. |
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HuHot Mongolian Grill in Appleton
David Lindenstruth, who runs the six-unit HuHot Mongolian Grill franchise called Appetize, Inc. in Appleton, says it is not only focused on positively impacting every restaurant guest and employee, but also the neighborhoods they serve. Through its Making Community Impacts program, Appetize, Inc. donates 1.5 percent of each month's gross sales to a different nonprofit group.
Interested non-profits submit applications which are reviewed quarterly by a third party selection committee appointed by Appetize, Inc. The committees select the top three applicants for the quarter. As part of the program, the people involved with the non-profits are asked to participate in a “Helping Hands” night at the restaurant locations that they are receiving funds from. They assist Appetize staff with basic duties and have the chance to share information about their organizations with guests.
Organizations benefiting from the company's generosity include the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Wisconsin, to name a few. In all, the company has raised an appetizing total of $88,000 for charity as of fall 2011. |
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Wisconsin Hospitality Group
Wisconsin Hospitality Group, a franchiser of 38 Applebee's and 82 Pizza Hut restaurants throughout Wisconsin, has focused on several causes that have impacted its executives and team members greatly.
On the Applebee's side of the business, an 11-year-old partnership with Wisconsin Children's Hospital has raised more than $926,000 through walkathons, brat fries, disc golf events and car washes. The monies are used in two ways: to purchase equipment for the hospital and benefit social programs that help sick kids. In 2010, the fundraising activities for the hospital were dedicated to the memory of Meaghan Rath, the daughter of long-time managers Ken and Kate Rath, who died after a struggle with leukemia.
WHG's Applebee's business also donates time and money to support the U.S. military; its restaurants served more than 21,000 free meals to active-duty, veteran personnel and their families on Veteran's Day last year. It also initiated an Honor Flight program that raised money to send World War II veterans to Washington, D.C., so they might see the war memorial there recognizing their brave service.
The Applebee's restaurants also held a Teacher's Day free meal promotion honoring instructors for their dedication to education, a blood drive and a holiday gift drive for those in need.
Its Pizza Hut stores focused on Camp Heartland, a safe-haven camp for children with HIV/AIDS. Since 2001, WHG has donated more than $645,500 to that cause. |
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Summertime Restaurant in Fish Creek
Terry Bolland, owner of Summertime Restaurant, a seasonal establishment in Fish Creek, is committed to offering his services whenever he is called upon, whether it's to help raise funds for the local nonprofit art school or events like the annual Winter Games, Fireman's Festival or the Mexican Independence Day Celebration.
The restaurant opens each year in mid-May and closes in October. When Bolland puts the "Closed" sign on the door for the last time during the year, he invites friends, his family members, local residents and even strangers to come inside for a free breakfast any day of the week. He cooks those meals himself and when people ask why the meal is free, he often tells them: "The price is you have to eat with me."
Bolland's charity is also shared with his restaurant business competitors, sharing employees if and when they need them, as staffing is a major issue for many seasonal operations.
Perhaps his biggest contribution, however, is his participation in the annual Fish Creek Fest & Fireworks, an Independence Day fundraiser that benefits the town's first responders and civic association. Since 2002, the event has raised more than $10,000 and has helped boost tourism in the area. |
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