On April 4, the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association honored the Rose Group as one of four Pennsylvania state winners of the 2017 Restaurant Neighbor Award during the UnitedHealthcare Awards Gala. The Rose Group is now in the running for the national award that rewards community service.
The Restaurant Neighbor Award was created by the National Restaurant Association to recognize restaurants that exemplify the industry’s philanthropic spirit. The 2017 Pennsylvania winners are: The Rose Group, Flinchy’s, Irish Pub, and Punxsy Pizza.
“We are proud to recognize these outstanding state winners of the 2017 Restaurant Neighbor Award,” said John Longstreet, PRLA president and CEO. “Pennsylvania’s restaurants serve their communities every day, and our state winners reflect that commitment to community.”
“Our team is passionate about serving the communities in which we work, helping provide for our neighbors wherever we can is at the core of our mission as team and organization,” says Harry Rose, Chairman of The Rose Group. “I commend our folks for working as diligently as they have for this award and for earning this award for the sixth consecutive year since 2011.”
The Rose Group (Newtown)—The Rose Group, which owns and operates 56 Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar locations and nine Corner Bakery Cafes, has worked hard to build and maintain a culture of philanthropy and genuine connection between community members, employees at each local restaurant, and those in their corporate office. Initiatives such as Flapjack Fundraisers and a partnership with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) allows employees at each location to support their particular communities need in a way that will create a real impact. The Rose Group initiated the partnership with ALSF in 2005, raising more than $3 million. The partnership has grown to become a nationwide corporate initiative and includes more than 1,000 Applebee’s locations throughout the United States, raising another $3 million for the foundation.
Flinchy’s (Camp Hill)—Owners Dawson and Matt Flinchbaugh are fundraising juggernauts in Central Pennsylvania. They have raised funds for numerous local charities, police departments, and groups. In 2016, Matt raised more than $304,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Man of the Year campaign, which will fund six research grants.
Irish Pub (Philadelphia)—This year, the Irish Pub celebrated the 7th annual Gathering of Heroes event, a guest bartending event, which raises money for the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation. MC-LEF gives scholarships to children of fallen military or law enforcement personnel. This year’s event focused on honoring the ongoing sacrifices of the veterans of the Vietnam War and raised more than $56,000 in one night. Irish Pub’s Gathering of Heroes has raised more than $300,000 for MC-LEF.
Punxsy Pizza (Punxsutawney)—October 2016 marked the 15th anniversary of Punxsy Pizza’s biggest fundraiser, “Pizza and Prevention.” This program supports the community and local fire department. Through the program, more than 3,600 smoke detectors have been placed in homes and more than $210,000 has been donated in equipment to the Punxsutawney Fire Department.
The national winners of the 2017 Restaurant Neighbor Award will each receive a $5,000 contribution to continue their community programs and be presented the awards this spring in Washington, D.C.
