Wednesday, September 2, 2009

The Melting Pot: Upcoming Charitable Events

The Melting Pot restaurants of Massachusetts and Rhode Island are starting off the Fall on a charitable kick. During the month of September, the Bedford, MA, Boston, MA, Framingham, MA and Providence, RI locations are offering customers two different ways to "dip into something different" and help out great causes at the same time.

Why not enjoy some good food while contributing to two good causes? Sounds like a very good idea to me.

Between September 15th and the 22nd, each location is partnering with The Estee Lauder Companies to host an event to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation® (BCRF). Each restaurant will be offering either a percentage of all sales or specific menu items that evening to benefit The BCRF. Estee Lauder will be offering gift bags for attendees along with the chance to win a gift basket via raffle. Each location will also be hosting a silent auction to benefit the foundation.

The BCRF was founded in 1993 by Evelyn H. Lauder as an independent, not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization dedicated to funding innovative clinical and translational research. The Foundation supports scientists at top universities and academic medical centers worldwide conducting the most advanced and promising breast cancer research that will lead to prevention and a cure in our lifetime. A minimum of 85 cents of each dollar donated to the Foundation goes directly to breast cancer research and awareness programs. For the seventh consecutive year, BCRF received Charity Navigator’s highest rating, four stars, thus outperforming over 99% of the evaluated charities, while the American Institute of Philanthropy has awarded BCRF its highest possible rating of A+. BCRF is the only breast cancer organization in the U.S. to receive these accolades.

In addition, September 20th – 26th, all 4 locations will be participating in Share Our Strength's® Great American Dine Out®. That week, $1 of every Big Night Out for Two purchased will be donated to the cause which aims to eradicate childhood hunger in America. The Big Night Out is the Melting Pot’s signature 4 course dining experience which includes cheese fondue, salad, fondue-style entrees and chocolate fondue.

Share Our Strength® is the leading national organization working to make sure no kid in America grows up hungry. We weave together a net of community groups, activists and food programs to catch children at risk of hunger and ensure they have nutritious food where they live, learn and play. We work with the culinary industry to create engaging, pioneering programs like Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation®, the nation’s premier culinary benefit; Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale®, a national grassroots effort; Share Our Strength’s A Tasteful Pursuit®, a touring dinner series; Share Our Strength’s Great American Dine Out ®, a week-long program involving thousands of restaurants nationwide; and Share Our Strength’s Operation Frontline®, a cooking-based nutrition education program.

The Melting Pot restaurants have a strong foundation in helping charitable organizations. In addition to a longstanding corporate affiliation with The St. Jude Children’s hospital, local Melting Pots have hosted events for organizations such as Team Hoyt, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, The Multiple Sclerosis Society, the ALS Association, Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston, and Pride for Youth. If any organization is interested in organizing a similar event, please contact Kirsten Fischer at meltingpotmarketing@verizon.net.

No comments: