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National
Restaurant Association Recognizes Madam’s Organ in Washington, D.C.
with 2009 Restaurant Neighbor Award
(Washington, D.C.)The National Restaurant Association today
announced that Madam’s Organ in Washington,
D.C., has been named this year’s Restaurant Neighbor Award winner in the small
business category. Owner Bill Duggan was presented the award and a $5,000 donation
to the restaurant’s cause during an award ceremony in Washington, D.C.
The award celebrates the philanthropic spirit of the restaurant industry
and serves to inspire others to actively get involved in their communities. American Express is the founding partner of the
Restaurant Neighbor Award.
“Madam’s Organ’s work with
young people is commendable and truly symbolizes the spirit of philanthropy of
our industry,” said National Restaurant Association President and CEO Dawn
Sweeney. “Bill Duggan’s personal commitment to the people in his community is
an inspiration to us all, and a perfect example of how a small business can
make a big difference. We are excited to present our 2009 Restaurant Neighbor
Award to Bill and his team at Madam’s Organ.”
“Madam’s Organ is not only a terrific place to go see live music and
enjoy great food and drink, it’s also a valuable member of our community,” said
Lynne Breaux, President of Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington. “While
Washington, D.C., is our nation’s capital, it has
challenges similar to any other city, including the availability of leisure areas
for children. Allowing these children a vacation away from the concrete of the
city is a great reward provided by the restaurant. We are proud to have Madam’s
Organ as a member of RAMW.”
Bill Duggan was driving home from his
beach house 13 years ago when he passed children playing on a run-down,
inner-city playground. Duggan, who owns Madam’s Organ - a Washington, D.C.,
restaurant and bar in the city’s Adam’s Morgan neighborhood - wanted to give
the children a chance to be kids in a better environment. So, with the help of
staff, family and the community, he started bringing groups of kids to the
beach for a week each summer.
Duggan believes that spending time at the
beach allows young people to just be the children they are, which can be a
challenge on the inner city streets. Duggan, his family, staff members and
other volunteers from the neighborhood take 20 boys and girls to his
three-building property in Dewey Beach, Del. The kids swim, fish, boat, hunt
crabs and clams, and tell stories around the bonfire. Throughout the year,
Duggan keeps in touch with many of the children and their families — many drop
in for soda and wings after school.
The Madam’s Organ team also has an annual
Christmas party for about 70 neighborhood kids and their parents.
“American Express
is proud to partner with the National Restaurant Association to honor
restaurants across the country for the invaluable contributions they make to
their communities,” said Curtis L. Wilson, Vice President and General Manager,
Restaurant Industries Group, American Express. “The impact restaurateurs have
in their communities through charitable activities and relief projects is
tremendous, and we hope their actions inspire others to do the same.”
The National Restaurant Association
and founding partner American Express developed the Restaurant Neighbor Award
to raise awareness about the restaurant industry’s contributions in local
communities across the country and to inspire other restaurant operators and
owners to make even greater contributions in their communities.
The Restaurant Neighbor Award
honors charitable contributions in four categories (small business, mid-size
business, large business/national chain, and Cornerstone Humanitarian).Each participating state restaurant
association selects winners in their respective states that compete with
winners from other states for the national award.
Joining Madam’s Organ in
receiving the 2009 Restaurant Neighbor Award are: BJ’s Restaurants, headquartered in Huntington Beach, Calif., with
locations nationwide, in the large business category; Rod’s Steak & Seafood Grille in Morristown, N.J., in the
mid-size business category; and Alex Ray
of Common Man Family of Restaurants in Ashland, N.H., in the Cornerstone
Humanitarian category.
For more information on the
award program, as well as more information on national winners and state
finalists, visit the National Restaurant Association’s Web site, www.restaurant.org/community.
###
Founded in 1919, the National
Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant
industry, which is comprised of 945,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and
a work force of 13 million employees. Together with the National Restaurant
Association Educational Foundation, the Association works to lead America’s
restaurant industry into a new era of prosperity, prominence, and
participation, enhancing the quality of life for all we serve. For more
information, visit our Web site at www.restaurant.org.
