Oregon Restaurant Neighbor Award Winners Announced

June 29, 2009

Each year, the National Restaurant Association (NRA) awards $5,000 to four restaurants through its Restaurant Neighbor Award. This awards program, in conjunction with American Express, recognizes outstanding community service efforts among our nation’s restaurants. Winners are selected in the following divisions: small business (annual sales under $5 million), mid-size business (annual sales $5 million to $100 million), large business/national chain (selected by the NRA) and Cornerstone Humanitarian of the Year (awarded to an individual for his or her personal dedication).

Winners chosen from Oregon will automatically be entered to compete with other state winners in the national race. Over the past couple of months, the Oregon Restaurant Association received many applications from charitable restaurants in Oregon. All of these applicants are deserving of recognition for their efforts to give back to their communities.

The following restaurants were chosen to represent Oregon for the national competition: Jake’s Diner (Lyle Hicks, owner) for small business, Southern Oregon Elmer’s (Dave Thomason, owner) for mid-size business and Thomas Cook (Pacific Bells, Inc.) for the Cornerstone Humanitarian award. Each of these winners will receive a plaque to display in their restaurant and are profiled in a booklet of community service case studies.

Jake's Diner, owned by Lyle Hicks in Bend, Oregon donates an immeasurable amount of meals to its community annually. Jake’s largest event on Thanksgiving Day provides 400-450 seniors with a warm meal and a family to celebrate with. Additionally, the restaurant holds events throughout the year to honor service men and women including the Fire and Police Chaplains, American Legion, Vietnam Veterans and the Volunteers of Medicine.

Restaurateur Dave Thomason of Elmer’s Southern Oregon is an influential leader for his community. For the past ten years, Dave has impacted others by serving on the Taste of the Rogue events committee and donating his efforts to the Boys and Girls Club of the Rogue Valley. Under Dave’s supervision more than $1,825,000 has been raised to help over 6,000 youth each year. Dave is also the founding chair of the Bite of the Rogue Valley to benefit the Boys and Girls Club which draws more than 2,000 guests every year.

Tom Cook of Pacific Bells, Inc. dedicates himself to supporting the Oregon Partnership cause to prevent and combat drug and alcohol abuse. For the past eight years, Tom has been instrumental in developing and organizing the Bell Blazers Golf Classic, a Portland fundraising event which raised $249,000 for the Oregon Partnership in 2009 alone. Every year, Tom commits himself to soliciting Bell Blazers Golf Classic event sponsors and underwriters as well as promoting and personally donating to the event.

"The 2009 Oregon Restaurant Neighbor Award winners are shining examples of industry members who are making a difference in their communities through their efforts and involvement,” Steve McCoid, President and CEO of the Oregon Restaurant Association notes. “We congratulate them and thank them for the positive impact they are making in their neighborhoods."

Jakes Diner, Elmer’s Southern Oregon and Thomas Cook will be competing with the winners from other states for the national award. In addition to the grand prize of $5,000 to help their favorite charity or community project, national winners receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC in September 2009 where they will receive the award at the gala awards dinner. National winners will be notified in mid-July and announced September 13th at the awards dinner in Washington DC.