In an effort to provide much-needed support to ongoing disaster relief efforts in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Firehouse Subs donated 87,000 pounds of rice and beans, as well as 500 of its empty, five-gallon pickle buckets for usage during the clean-up efforts. The food donation provided nearly 500,000 meals last month, and was made in conjunction with Hope for Haiti, an organization based in Naples, Fla. that both shipped and distributed the food for Firehouse Subs.

 “Hot meals with high protein are in high demand in Haiti,” said Robin Sorensen, co-founder of Firehouse Subs. “There are so many areas where we can all help, but hunger has been a chief concern since the earthquake.”

Sorensen departed for Haiti on Monday to provide hands-on support with relief efforts. He is joined by his business partner, Firehouse Subs CFO Stephen Joost; his father, retired fire captain Robert Sorensen; as well as Eric Sorensen, son of Firehouse Subs Co-founder Chris Sorensen, and a student at the University of Florida.

Hope for Haiti has been working in Haiti since 1990. While its primary focus has been education, nutrition, and healthcare for the poorest country in the western hemisphere, the organization also provides emergency disaster relief. During the 2008 hurricanes it deployed a massive Emergency Disaster Relief program and has true on-hand expertise in disaster assistance. Hope for Haiti supports eight schools, a nutrition clinic, a hospital, and several orphanages in the Port-au-Prince area. For continuous updates, follow Hope for Haiti on Twitter at @HopeforHaitiFL, or via the organization’s Web site www.hopeforhaiti.com.

 Firehouse Subs®, founded in Jacksonville, Fla., by former firefighting brothers Chris and Robin Sorensen, is a 380-unit fast-casual restaurant chain. Firehouse Subs offers oversized portions of premium hand-sliced meats and Sargento cheeses, steamed to make the flavors burst, then piled high with fresh produce atop a toasted sub roll. A recent and top selling addition to all locations is unique Cherry Lime-Aid beverage, a formula exclusive to Firehouse Subs. Restaurants reflect the authentic firefighter heritage, as well as the founding family’s 200 years of firefighting service. Firehouse Subs was named “National Chain” winner of the National Restaurant Association’s (NRA) Restaurant Neighbor Award for their overall dedication to community service. The 2010 plans for expansion include the Northeast, Central and Southwest regions of the U.S.

For more information about Firehouse Subs, please visit www.firehousesubs.com, become a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/firehousesubs or follow on Twitter atwww.twitter.com/firehouse_subs.

Dean Ogan, owner of Rocky Top Hospitality, has announced that the Rocky Top restaurants raised a total of $2403.55 during the Triangle-wide Dine Out for Haiti relief fundraiser. All of the Rocky Top restaurants—Michael Dean’s, Bogart’s, Red Room, Hi5, Twisted Fork, and the Mash House—hosted the event on Sunday, Jan. 24, donating 10 percent of sales to support aid efforts in Haiti.  Rocky Top partnered with several other locally owned and operated restaurants for this fund raiser. The money has been donated to Partners in Health (PIH), an organization that works to bring modern medical care to poor communities around the world.  PIH has been working on the ground in Haiti for more than 20 years.

“It’s so rewarding to be able to do something locally for those affected by the recent earthquake in Haiti,” said Ogan. “Rocky Top chose to support Partners in Health because of their long term commitment and presence in Haiti. We hope that proceeds from the Dine Out fundraiser will bolster their current relief efforts.”

Restaurants participating in Dine Out for Haiti each committed to donate 10 percent of their profits from the event to one of two relief agencies: Partners in Health (http://www.standwithhaiti.org/haiti) and Family Health Ministry (http://www.familyhm.org/)

Rocky Top Hospitality has been devoted to improving Raleigh, North Carolina’s local dining scene since 1998, when its first restaurant opened.  Michael Dean’s Seafood Grill and Oyster Bar was the culmination of years of planning by Dean Ogan. Seven other restaurants have now opened under the Rocky Top Hospitality name and include The Twisted Fork Grill, Market & Bar, The Red Room Tapas Lounge, Bogart’s American Grill, Hi5, The Mash House Brewery & Chophouse, Tribeca Tavern as well as 1705 Prime Catering & Events, a thriving events facility and catering business. Rocky Top Hospitality always builds restaurants from the menu-out, so the emphasis is always on the food and how to create an experience you cannot find anywhere else. For more information visit the Web site at www.rockytophospitality.com.

Earthquake survivors in Haiti will get a little extra love on Valentine’s Day as 15 top U.S. restaurants will donate a portion of their proceeds to a unique initiative called “Hearts for Haiti: An American Dining Relief Benefit,” the Pan American Development Foundation and its partners announced. www.HaitiHearts.org

Hearts for Haiti was conceived by Bravo’s “Top Chef” Season Six contestant Chef Ron Duprat, a native of Haiti and now Executive Chef at Latitudes Beach Cafe at the Hollywood Beach Marriott  in Florida, to raise money for relief and recovery efforts by three non-profit organizations, including PADF.

“Chef Ron Duprat’s initiative is a terrific way for people to celebrate their love for each other, while at the same time helping the survivors of today’s worst natural disaster in the hemisphere,” says Jimmy Jean-Louis, who plays the “Haitian” on NBC’s hit series “Heroes” and is PADF’s Goodwill Ambassador. www.HaitiHearts.org

Benefiting organizations are: PADF, along with its partners Hollywood Unites for Haiti (HUFH) and the Organization of American States (OAS) www.padf.org; and Kinship Circle Animal Disaster Aid based in St. Louis. www.KinshipCircle.org/haiti/

Participating restaurants are:

Arizona

Chef Todd Sicolo at Frank & Albert’s Restaurant at The Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix www.arizonabiltmore.com/dining/biltmore.aspx

California

Mattin Nobilia of Iluna Basque Restaurant in San Francisco www.ilunabasque.com

Connecticut

Adam Greenberg of Barcelona Wine Bar in West Hartford www.barcelonawinebar.com

Florida

Allen Susser of Chef Allen’s Seafood Grill in Aventura www.chefallens.com

Ron Duprat of Latitudes Beach Cafe at the Hollywood Beach Marriott  in Hollywood www.latitudesonthebeach.com

Niranjan Perera of Nilus Delights Bakery in Hollywood

Michelle Bernstein of Michy’s in Miami www.michysmiami.com

Sean Gavin of Crave Restaurant in Fort Myers

James Hudson of J Bistro in Fort Myers www.jbistros.com

Tim Andriola of Timo Restaurant in Sunny Isles www.timorestaurant.com

Chef Sigfredo Gonzalez at Borinqueya  in Davie www.borinqueyarestaurant.com

Chef Steve Mendez at Top Chef Restaurant and Lodge in North Ft. Lauderdale

Jose Pastrana of Trina Restaurant at the Atlantic Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale www.trinarestaurantandlounge.com

Georgia

Hector Santiago of Pura Vida-Latino Tapas Restaurant & Bar in Atlanta www.puravidatapas.com

New Jersey

Chef J. Geoffrey at The Copperfish Restaurant  in Cape May www.thecopperfishrestaurant.com

In Pasadena, Calif., Michael Voltaggio of The Dining Room, Langham Huntington Hotel & Spa has donated two dining gift certificates valued at $400, which will be auctioned. www.pasadena.langhamhotels.com

Apart from Hearts for Haiti, individual and corporate donations to PADF-OAS-HUFH’s Haiti relief, recovery and reconstruction efforts are encouraged by calling toll-free (877) 572-4484 or visiting www.PanAmericanRelief.org. Text HEAL to 50555 to donate $5.

About HUFH

Hollywood Unites For Haiti is a non-profit charitable aid organization based in Los Angeles that that is lead by Jimmy Jean-Louis. www.hufh.org.

About the OAS

The Organization of American States (OAS) is the world’s oldest regional organization and today is comprised of 34 countries from Latin America and the Caribbean. www.oas.org

About PADF

PADF is a non-profit organization established in 1962 to promote, facilitate, and implement social and economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean. In the past year, it had more than 5.6 million beneficiaries in 18 countries.

PADF is one of the largest non-governmental organizations in Haiti. With nearly three decades of work on the ground, PADF now manages a large portfolio of activities ranging from community-driven development to protecting human rights.

Its headquarters is in Washington, D.C., and has field offices in Haiti, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and elsewhere. www.padf.org

More Restaurants Are Helping Haitians Starbucks and Panda Express are the latest restaurant chains to announce programs to aid Haitian earthquake victims. In addition, the National Restaurant Association and its Educational Foundation (NRAEF) have joined with Share Our Strength to organize a Restaurants for Relief-Haiti program.

Starting today, participating Starbucks restaurants in the U.S. and Canada will enable customers to make monetary donations at store registers, with no purchase necessary, to benefit the American and Canadian Red Cross organizations for a limited time. The Starbucks Foundation will also donate $1 million (U.S.) to the American Red Cross efforts to help Haiti.

Panda Restaurant Group Inc., parent of Panda Express, has committed to a goal of raising $300,000 through in-store and corporate donations. Through Feb. 5, participating Panda Express locations across the country will facilitate donations through in-store drop-boxes, allowing guests to make contributions of any amount.

Continue reading . . .

On Sunday, February 7th, over 400 Hooters restaurants in The United States and Canada will donate all their stores sales for to-go and dine in, food and beverage orders for the duration of the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl Game to the Haiti relief effort. The money raised will go to Stop Hunger Now, an international hunger relief organization that coordinates the distribution of food and other life-saving aid around the world.

“Our Hooters Community wanted to find a way to help ease the suffering in Haiti. By supporting Stop Hunger Now we have found a path that involves feeding people which only makes sense with us being in the Restaurant Industry,” stated Mike McNeil, Vice President of Marketing for Hooters of America, Inc. “We are very impressed with the work that Stop Hunger has done around the world and already in Haiti. They have told us that the funds we generate in this effort will provide over 300,000 meals for hungry victims, especially children. That is a tangible benefit that makes our Operators and Franchisees proud,” concluded McNeil.

The Sunday of the Super Bowl is historically the largest sales day of the year for Hooters. This is the 6th year in a row that Hooters is giving away a TV in every location during the game, and sales are expected to hold true to the high sales trend.

Hooters of America, Inc. is the franchisor and operator of over 450 Hooters restaurants in 42 states and 26 foreign countries. The first Hooters opened in 1983 in Clearwater, Florida. Hooters is well-known for its brand of food and fun, featuring a casual beach-theme atmosphere, a menu that features seafood, sandwiches and Hooters nearly world famous chicken wings, and service provided by the All-American cheerleaders, the Hooters Girls. For more information about Hooters visit www.hooters.com.

Stop Hunger Now is a Raleigh-based international hunger relief agency that has been fulfilling its commitment to end hunger for over 10 years. Since 1998, the organization has coordinated the distribution of food and other lifesaving aid to children and families in countries all over the world. Stop Hunger Now has provided over $56 million worth of direct aid and 18 million meals to more than 70 countries worldwide. For more information visit www.stophungernow.com.

• Hooters, Medium Wing Sauce, 12-Ounce (6 Pack)
• Hooters, Wing Sauce Hot, 12-Ounce (6 Pack)

Building on the restaurant industry’s continuing efforts to help victims of the earthquake in Haiti, the National Restaurant Association and National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) today announced that they have joined with Share Our Strength to organize Restaurants for Relief-Haiti to galvanize the restaurant industry’s fundraising initiative. The program is an extension of the original Restaurants for Relief in 2005 that raised nearly $1 million from the nation’s restaurants to aid recovery efforts in the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina.  

“Restaurants are always among the first to respond to emergency situations, and we have seen how incredibly generous the restaurant industry is in times of crisis,” said Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association and National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. “Share Our Strength is one of our industry’s most effective charitable organizations, and we are pleased to join their efforts. If you are already involved in relief efforts, you can still participate in Restaurants for Relief-Haiti to further help the hundreds of thousands of people affected by the earthquake. We encourage all the nation’s nearly one million restaurants to join this effort.”

Share Our Strength will grant 100 percent of funds raised through Restaurants for Relief-Haiti to organizations with proven capacity and expertise to respond to such a crisis. Restaurants can participate by:

• Donating a portion of sales from a week, a day or a specific menu item.
• Collect donations from patrons, or direct them to make online donations at www.strength.org/haiti. 
• Encourage employees to make individual donations and match them.
• Visit the Restaurants for Relief-Haiti Web site for more ideas.   

“We are deeply concerned about the families and children displaced by this unimaginable disaster,” said Bill Shore, founder and executive director of Share Our Strength. “Hunger has always been a huge issue in Haiti and will be even more so going forward.  Funds raised through Restaurants for Relief will help us provide both short- and long-term assistance as Haiti recovers and rebuilds.” 

Restaurants that wish to help should send the restaurant name, city and state to RFR@strength.org to be added to the list of participants. Program donations can be made online through Share Our Strength at any time before February 12, 2010.

Share Our Strength® works to end hunger and poverty in the United States and abroad by mobilizing industries and individuals, and creating community wealth to promote lasting change. Share Our Strength is also the leading national organization working to end childhood hunger in America by 2015. The organization weaves together a net of community groups, activists and food programs to catch every at-risk child and make sure no kid in America grows up hungry.

Dean Ogan, owner of Rocky Top Hospitality (www.rockytophospitality.com), has announced that all Rocky Top Hospitality’s restaurants will participate in a Triangle-wide Dine Out for Haiti relief fundraiser. The Dine Out event will support aid efforts in Haiti, with restaurants across the Triangle donating proceeds to two relief agencies. All of the Rocky Top restaurants: Michael Dean’s, Bogart’s, Red Room, Hi5, Twisted Fork, and the Mash House will host the event on Sunday, Jan. 24 and donate 10% of all sales to support aid efforts in Haiti.

“It’s great to see restaurants around the Triangle together on this,” said Ogan. “We are proud to be a part of a community that is so willing to band together and help out.”

Chef Amy Tornquist of Watts Grocery has organized the event. Other restaurants in Durham, Chapel Hill, and Raleigh will host on Sunday (Jan. 24) or Monday (Jan. 25) night. In addition to the Rocky Top restaurants, the others participating in this event include Watts Grocery, Six Plates, Rue Cler, and Pop’s (Durham); Lantern Restaurant, Saxapahaw General Store, and Crooks Corner (Chapel Hill); as well as Globe Restaurant and Ruckus Pizza Pasta and Spirits (Raleigh).

The two relief agencies that will benefit: Partners in Health (http://www.standwithhaiti.org/haiti) and Family Health Ministry (http://www.familyhm.org)

Rocky Top Hospitality has been devoted to improving Raleigh, North Carolina’s local dining scene since 1998, when its first restaurant opened. Michael Dean’s Seafood Grill and Oyster Bar was the culmination of years of planning by Dean Ogan. Six other restaurants have now opened under the Rocky Top Hospitality name and include The Twisted Fork Grill, Market & Bar, The Red Room Tapas Lounge, Bogart’s American Grill, Hi5, The Mash House Brewery & Chophouse, as well as 1705 Prime Catering & Events, a thriving events facility and catering business. Rocky Top Hospitality always builds restaurants from the menu-out, so the emphasis is always on the food and how to create an experience you cannot find anywhere else. For more information visit the Web site at www.rockytophospitality.com.