Community Involvement

In 2009, four Atlanta-based companies were state finalists for the Restaurant Neighbor Award: Affairs to Remember Caterers; Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc.; Chick-fil-A; and Hooters Restaurants.
 
On September 21st, 2009, the Atlanta City Council issued a proclamation in recognition of the Restaurant Industry and its participation in Share Our Strength’s Great American Dine Out. This year’s Great American Dine Out will take place from September 19-25th. The GRA also supports Share Our Strength’s Great American Baking Contest and Operation Frontline.

Dine Out For Kids, benefiting Communities in Schools, was created in partnership with the GRA five years ago. Last year was our most successful year to date, raising over $40,000 to help kids stay in school and prepare for life.

This year, the GRA worked with Robby Kukler of Fifth Group Restaurants to create a program in which guests at participating restaurants could make donations to the Hunger Walk/Run. This program raised over $65,000 towards the over $450,000 the Hunger Walk/Run generated. In addition, the GRA supports the Atlanta Community Food Bank year-round.

Also, the GRA granted $2,000 to the Hospitality Education Foundation of Georgia (HEFG) to help send the winning team of the 2010 HEFG State Culinary Competition to the National ProStart Invitational in Overland Park, Kansas. This was made possible by funds raised at a silent auction held at Taste of Atlanta.

As Honorary Chair for Chocolate! For Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 2010, Hoff hopes to exceed $100,000 in funds to help fight Cystic Fibrosis. The GRA’s Community Involvement Liaison, Kelly Hornbuckle, serves as Restaurant Recruitment Co-Chair for the event, which will feature chocolate tastings from 20 of Atlanta’s top pastry chefs on June 17th at Villa Christina.

For more information on how the GRA gives back, contact Kelly Hornbuckle, GRA Community Involvement Liaison, at 404.467.9000 or Kelly@garestaurants.org.