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Share Our Strength acknowledges restaurants for commitment to ending childhood hunger

June 3, 2013

Industry leaders, restaurateurs, chefs, anti-hunger advocates and policymakers gathered Sunday to honor individuals, organizations and businesses for their outstanding contributions to Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign. The annual awards ceremony and dinner was part of the nonprofit organization's annual Conference of Leaders, and recognized award-winners for their passion, dedication and outstanding commitments to realizing a country where no child grows up hungry, according to a company press release. The evening's program was emceed by Food Network hosts Melissa d'Arabian and Ted Allen.

Of the evening's 18 award-winners, eight individuals and organizations from the foodservice industry were recognized. Recipients included:

2013 Share Our Strength's Humanitarian of the Year award:
Marc Murphy, Benchmarc Restaurants and Benchmarc Events by Marc Murphy

Chef Marc Murphy was presented with Share Our Strength's 2013 Humanitarian of the Year award. Murphy, who has been a Share Our Strength spokesperson and supporter for more than 10 years, was honored for his personal and professional commitment to ending childhood hunger in America. In addition to spearheading the integration of Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign into Food Network programming and events, Murphy lends his business experience to help develop creative initiatives to further Share Our Strength's mission, including continually working to engage new partners, contributors and advocates through his involvement in Share Our Strength's Dine Out For No Kid Hungry fundraising program and the organization's culinary events.

2013 Share Our Strength's Chef of the Year:
Joanne Chang, Flour

Joanne Chang, owner and pastry chef of Flour in Boston, received Share Our Strength's Chef of the Year award for her gift of time and talent to Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign. Chang has continually donated her expertise to Share Our Strength through her involvement in regional culinary events, including No Kid Hungry dinners and Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation event in Boston, where she also serves as honorary chair. Chang was not only recognized for her professional contributions, but also for her personal commitment to ending childhood hunger through her individual advocacy and recruitment efforts.

2013 Share Our Strength's Dine Out For No Kid Hungry Leadership Award:
Joe's Crab Shack

Joe's Crab Shack was recognized with Share Our Strength's Dine Out For No Kid Hungry Leadership Award. The restaurant raised a total of $2.4 million for Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign over the past five years through its participation in Dine Out For No Kid Hungry. President Jim Mazany, who accepted the award, has been a champion for Share Our Strength, integrating the organization's mission and work into its September fundraising promotions, and motivating staff to get involved. Additionally, since partnering with Share Our Strength in 2008, Joe's Crab Shack leadership has served on the No Kid Hungry Leadership Council and on the Dine Out For No Kid Hungry Advisory Board, where they provide valuable consultation around the marketing tactics and strategy of the program.

2013 Share Our Strength's Restaurateur of the Year:
George W. McKerrow Jr., Ted's Montana Grill

George W. McKerrow, CEO of Ted's Montana Grill, received the 2013 Restaurateur of the Year award for championing the issue of childhood hunger and encouraging other restaurant groups to get involved in Share Our Strength's Dine Out For No Kid Hungry fundraising program by demonstrating how doing good is good for business. McKerrow was instrumental in helping the restaurant group raise more than $150,000 in 2012 for Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign, and leveraged his role in the community to raise government awareness of Share Our Strength's mission. McKerrow has also co-chaired Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation committee in Atlanta for 13 years.

2013 Excellence in Corporate Leadership Award:
Arby's Foundation

The Arby's Foundation was recognized with the 2013 Excellence in Corporate Leadership award for its participation in Share Our Strength's Dine Out For No Kid Hungry fundraising campaign, and for its efforts to curb childhood hunger in the summer months through its national Hunger for Happiness truck tour. In just two years, the Arby's Foundation has raised close to $5 million to support Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign, $2.3 million of which was contributed through 2012 participation in Dine Out For No Kid Hungry. The Arby's Foundation was honored for its unique, sustainable programmatic and awareness-building contributions, and Kate Atwood, executive director of the Arby's Foundation, accepted the award on the foundation's behalf.

2013 Tyson Power of the Spirit Award:
Boston Culinary Community

Members of the Boston culinary community were recognized for their incredible contributions to the 2013 Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation Boston, which occurred four days after the Boston Marathon bombing. Ed Nicholson, director of community relations at Tyson Foods, who presented the award said, "At a time when it was hard for the entire country to smile, especially in Boston, the culinary community came through in a big way. They never hesitated in the decision to not cancel the event, knowing that, in the face of tragedy, the best medicine is often a chance to escape, laugh and smile. With energy, enthusiasm and a passion for ending childhood hunger in America, they brought the community of Boston together when they most needed it."

2013 Share Our Strength's Rookie of the Year:
Brandon Coleman, formerly of Romano's Macaroni Grill

Coleman, formerly chief marketing officer of Romano's Macaroni Grill, was honored with Share Our Strength's Rookie of the Year award for his achievements in 2012 leading a team of more than 100 restaurants across the country in Share Our Strength's Dine Out For No Kid Hungry. His leadership and personal interest in the program helped generate more than $320,000 in contributions in the restaurant company's first year of participation. Coleman continues his avid support of Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign in his new position as chief marketing officer for Snapfinger.

2013 Share Our Strength's State Restaurant Association Leadership Award:
Maine Restaurant Association

National Restaurant Association President and Chief Executive Officer Dawn Sweeney presented the Maine Restaurant Association with Share Our Strength's State Restaurant Association Leadership award, recognizing the association's commitment to Share Our Strength's Dine Out For No Kid Hungry fundraising program. Dick Grotton, chief executive officer of the Maine Restaurant Association, accepted the award on behalf of the organization, which was selected for its contributions of staff time, and in-state promotional support of Dine Out For No Kid Hungry last year. The Maine Restaurant Association coordinated the design and distribution of Dine Out For No Kid Hungry collateral, promoted the program through magazine, newsletter, and radio spots, and encouraged the public to dine out through social media outreach.

Additional award winners were, in alphabetical order by first name:

• Cathy Malin: Bake Sale for No Kid Hungry Leadership Award
• Hunger Free Colorado: No Kid Hungry State Partnership Award
• JCPenney: Share Our Strength's Rookie of the Year (tie)
• Kathy Webb: Share Our Strength's Advocate of the Year (tie)
• Magie Young: Cooking Matters® Leadership Award
• North Carolina Department of Public Instruction: No Kid Hungry Leadership Award
• Panache Party Rentals: Share Our Strength's Local Business Partner Award
• Seth Bixby-Daugherty: Share Our Strength's Advocate of the Year (tie)
• Scott McKee: Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation Leadership Award
• Tom Vilsack: No Kid Hungry National Champion Award

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