The Capital Area Food Bank received a generous $23,000 gift from the Darden Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Darden Restaurants, Inc. The foundation empowers Darden Restaurant affiliates to make charitable donations in their respective areas through the Restaurant Community Grants program. In the Washington metro area, more than 20 Red Lobster, Olive Garden and Seasons 52 restaurants came together to support the CAFB in Darden’s largest donation to a single nonprofit. This contribution will help the CAFB provide nearly 70,000 meals to those struggling with hunger in the nation’s capital.
Darden Restaurants, through its foundation, seeks to encourage and build up a spirit of volunteerism and philanthropy in the communities where its employees live and work. Darden Restaurants employs nearly 200,000 people and the foundation has given over $60 million in grants since 1995.
Darden Restaurants has 2,000 member businesses in North America, making it the largest full-service restaurant company in the world. Darden is renowned across the United States and Canada as a leader in fostering an organizational culture that rewards caring for and responding to the needs of others—both the needs of its employees and those of the underserved communities in areas where Darden restaurants are located. Other metropolitan areas that are benefiting from Darden-sponsored restaurant grants are Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Houston. Another Feeding America network member, Philabundance, also received a very generous grant from the Darden Foundation this year.
Once again, a special thanks to Darden Restaurants for the generous gift!