Ann Arbor restaurants pledge portion of proceeds to Haiti
Several downtown Ann Arbor restaurants are working together to raise money to support earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.
As part of Ann Arbor Dine Out for Haiti, Vinology, Pacific Rim, the Arbor Brewing Company and the West End Grill are donating a portion of their proceeds on Feb. 18-19 to Partners in Health, an organization that has been providing medical care to Haiti for the past 20 years.
“After seeing everything on the news about the earthquake, I really wanted to do something to help,” organizer Kay Leopold said.
Diners eat at Pacific Rim, which is one of the restaurants participating in an effort to raise funds for Haiti.
File photo
Leopold, who is not affiliated with any organization or restaurant, contacted the downtown restaurants after hearing about similar programs in New York City and Raleigh, N.C.
“I thought it would be nice to organize something like that here,” she said.
Dine Out for Haiti asks restaurants nationwide to donate up to 10 percent of their sales to one of three organizations providing aid to Haiti.
Leopold said she chose Partners in Health because she took a class with the organization’s founders and was impressed.
“I just think Partners in Health is a really amazing organization,” she said.
So far, Arbor Brewing Company has pledged 10 percent of its bar sales, Vinology 10 percent of its restaurant sales and Pacific Rim 5 percent of its total sales. The West End Grill was one of the newest to join the list and is still figuring out details.
“We try to get involved with community fundraising events, and this extends to the greater world community,” West End Grill owner Roland Pohlman said. “We’re just trying to do our small part.”
Pacific Rim Chef and Owner Duc Tang said he wanted to reach out to the local community and the people of Haiti.
“It’s about being responsible businesses as well as responsible citizens,” he said. “I think it goes hand-and-hand.”
Leopold said she contacted a number of other restaurants downtown and is trying to gather more participants for the event.
Those interested in joining Ann Arbor Dine Out for Haiti should contact her at kay.leopold@post.harvard.edu.
For more information on Ann Arbor restaurants, visit AnnArbor.com's restaurant guide.
Comments
truenorth
Fri, Feb 19, 2010 : 10:01 a.m.
What a bunch of knuckleheads. Commenting on who is giving what percent and how much. Please... I say Kudo's to all of these restaurants. Who cares what % you are giving. I just think it is amazing that you are involved and helping others. Well done!
Kay Leopold
Fri, Feb 5, 2010 : 12:44 p.m.
As the person organizing this event, I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude to all of the restaurants who are participating, regardless of the size of their donation. Some of these restaurants have already donated in other ways, and yet they have still agreed to participate. You can't judge the restaurant based solely on how much they are giving in this one event. I applaud Arbor Brewing Company, Pacific Rim, Vinology, and West End Grill for giving what they can - and I welcome other restaurants to join us with as much or as little as they can manage. I know that the generosity of the people of Ann Arbor (as well as our love of delicious food!) will make this event a success, and these restaurants' donations will mean so much to Partners In Health and the Haitians that they are treating. Kay
Ron Torrella
Fri, Feb 5, 2010 : 11:32 a.m.
ABC is donating 10% of their bar sales -- ONLY their bar sales?? I guess the mark-up is high enough that it won't hurt their bottom line, but is that really a "giving spirit?" And is encouraging more drinking for the benefit of suffering Haitians a good thing? At least Vinology (10% all sales) and Pacific Rim (5% all sales) don't appear to be as cynical. I hope the folks at West End follow the majority on this. I know whom I *won't* be patronizing in this effort.
anonymous
Fri, Feb 5, 2010 : 10:43 a.m.
Well, I don't know about everyone else, but I think it's really nice that people are working together to aid our neighbors in such a desperate situation. Even the smallest donation is helpful, and regardless of the event or the charity supported, it's all going to help the same people.
satkin
Fri, Feb 5, 2010 : 9:49 a.m.
There was a great event at the Campus Inn last night benefiting the Haitian Nursing Foundations relief effort. All proceeds went to the relief not 5-10%. It was noted on the event page on annarbor.com. Why was there article before pumping it up?
bruceae
Fri, Feb 5, 2010 : 8:33 a.m.
Until Haiti releases the missionaries they are holding on the trumped up kidnapping charges we should send NOTHING to them
ezbngreen
Thu, Feb 4, 2010 : 6:31 p.m.
Couldn't we just send them a portion of the funding from the homeless shelter? At least I would know that it went to people who are in true need of help. Not just a bum living off the dole.