Organization Contact:
Kara Justi
561-727-3450
Darden Media Contact:
Megan DiSciullo
(312) 233-1363
Big Brothers Big
Sisters and the Darden Foundation Partner to
Advance Children
in Martin and Palm Beach Counties
Grant is one of
nearly 900 to be awarded through the inaugural Darden Restaurant Community
Grants Program
West Palm Beach, FL – April 23
2012 – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Palm Beach and Martin County (BBBS)
announced it has been selected to receive a $2,000 grant as part of the
inaugural Restaurant Community Grant Program from the Darden Foundation,
the charitable arm of Darden Restaurants Inc. The Restaurant Community Grant
Program is a local grants program intended to help support nonprofit
organizations in the hundreds of communities Darden
and its restaurant brands serve. The donation will help BBBS provide
their critical mentoring programs to children facing adversity.
Restaurants within the Darden family – Red Lobster, Olive
Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52 –
are helping to award more than $1.7 million in local
grants to nearly 900 exceptional nonprofit organizations nationwide. Nonprofits
receiving grants support one of Darden’s three key focus areas: access to postsecondary education,
preservation of natural resources and hunger.
“Big Brothers Big Sisters is proud to accept this generous
grant from the Darden Foundation via the Jensen Beach Longhorn Steakhouse and
the Olive Garden in Boynton Beach,” said BBBS President and CEO Bill Bee. “The
Darden Foundation’s investment will provide significant positive returns for
children in our community, and we sincerely appreciate their support.”
“Each
grant is not just a check – it is an opportunity to make an impact, from
providing essential supplies to food banks in Oregon, to mentoring students in
South Florida and supporting environmental education in New England,” said Drew
Madsen, president and chief operating officer of Darden Restaurants, Inc. “Our
service philosophy extends far beyond the walls of our restaurants. These
grants bring that philosophy to life by helping to develop a better future for
those we serve, one community at a time.”
For more information about the Darden Foundation, please
visit http://www.darden.com/commitment/community.asp.
For additional information on Big Brothers Big Sisters of Palm Beach and Martin
Counties, please visit www.mentorbig.org.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Palm Beach and Martin
Counties
BBBS provides children facing adversity aged 6-17 with
volunteer mentors who serve as positive role models. Since 1986 the
organization has provided mentors to children in Martin County and since July
2010 in Palm Beach County. Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) recognized
the Martin County organization in 2007 as one of the 35 best performing
agencies nationwide. BBBSA recognized CEO William P. Bee Jr. as “CEO of the
Year- Small Agency Category” in 2007. South Florida Business Leader Magazine
ranked BBBS in 2009, and again in 2010 and again in 2011 as one of the top 100
South Florida small businesses. Visit www.mentorbig.org
to learn more.
About Darden Restaurants
Darden
Restaurants, Inc., (NYSE: DRI), the world's largest full-service restaurant
company, owns and operates more than 1,900 restaurants that generate over $7.5
billion in annual sales. Headquartered in Orlando, and employing 180,000
people, Darden is recognized for a culture that rewards caring for and
responding to people. In 2012, Darden was named to the FORTUNE "100 Best
Companies to Work For" list for the second year in a row and is the only
full-service restaurant company to ever appear on the list. Our restaurant
brands — Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille,
Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52 and Eddie V's — reflect the rich diversity of those
who dine with us. Our brands are built on deep insights into what our guests
want. For more information, please visit www.darden.com.
The Darden Foundation
The Darden Restaurants, Inc. Foundation is the charitable arm of Darden
Restaurants, Inc. The Foundation’s mission is to maintain a spirit of
volunteerism and philanthropy as defining characteristics of Darden
Restaurants. Since 1995, the Darden Foundation has awarded more than $60
million in grants. Total giving in fiscal year 2012 amounted to $7.8 million, 20 percent of which is represented by the Restaurant Community Grants
Program. The Darden Foundation carries out its mission
by focusing philanthropic efforts and resources on the following program areas:
Access to Postsecondary Education, Preservation of Natural Resources and Good
Neighbor Grants. 
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