Philanthropy of Oregon’s Restaurants Highlighted In Statewide Recognition

[Wilsonville] – The Oregon Restaurant Association today announced the two state winners of the seventh annual Restaurant Neighbor Award—a program established by the National Restaurant Association to honor and recognize restaurant operators who go above and beyond in supporting their communities—Mo’s Restaurants and The Tin Shed Café. These two will go on to compete with other state winners for the National Restaurant Neighbor Award.

“I am pleased to announce that these establishments will represent our state in the national Restaurant Neighbor Award,” said Mike McCallum, President/CEO “Every day, restaurants open their doors to members of their community for purposes other than serving great meals—they assist, encourage and support those in need, in their own neighborhoods and nationwide, and serve as community leaders in organizing charity projects and events—and we are thrilled to support their tireless work.”

Pacific Northwest coastal icon and famous chowder creator, Mo’s Restaurants, is a strong supporter of the Oregon National Guard and their families. The restaurant engages in a number of activities to recognize, feed, and raise funds for Oregon military service men and women, from a wall of troops names and photos, to care packages, to direct fundraising, to providing food for 4,000 Guard members and their families at the largest troop deployment since WWII. The dedication of the Mo’s company and their employees to the community continues a 50-year tradition.

Located in Portland, The Tin Shed Garden Café works tirelessly to support their community and help those in need. The restaurant has been integral in the revitalization of NE Alberta Street, a low-income, urban area. Their community efforts focus on the most vulnerable and underprivileged and building a sense of fraternity among other establishments in the neighborhood. In addition to ongoing work with the Community Cycling Center, which gives away hundreds of bicycles to low income children, the restaurant this year mobilized and executed a stellar fundraising effort to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. The event was held within three days of the catastrophe, raising $6,000 for America’s Second Harvest.

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.

Two restaurants from each participating state are selected to compete for the national Restaurant Neighbor Award (Large Business and Small Business categories.) A profile of the community-service efforts of each national and state winner will be highlighted in a booklet, as well as on the Association’s Web site, www.restaurant.org/community. American Express is the founding partner of the program.

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