National Restaurant Association and the Texas Restaurant Association Launch "Freedom is Sweet!TM" Fundraising Campaign to Support Military Families

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Sep 20, 2011, 12:00 ET

Pilot Program to recruit restaurants in Texas to raise funds to support local military charities the week of Veteran's Day, November 7-13

WASHINGTON and AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Restaurant Association (www.restaurant.org) and the Texas Restaurant Association (http://www.restaurantville.com) today announced the launch of "Freedom is Sweet!^TM" (www.freedom-is-sweet.org), a fundraising campaign to support rehabilitation efforts for military veterans from all branches of service and their families through housing, medical, athletic, occupational and physical training programs. The pilot program is expected to become a nationwide community affairs initiative of the National Restaurant Association and partner state restaurant associations next year.

"Our military veterans who have returned home from service and those who are still standing their post have serious needs that we as a community in Texas can and will support," said Richie Jackson, CEO, Texas Restaurant Association, "We're proud to be the inaugural leaders of Freedom is Sweet! in the United States and we hope every restaurant will join us this Veteran's Day to support our military families."

Participating restaurants on and around the Veteran's Day holiday on November 11, 2011, will dedicate a portion of their revenues to the Freedom is Sweet! campaign. Donations will be administered by the National Restaurant Association and program administrator, Tee it up for the Troops (http://teeitupforthetroops.org/), a 501(c)3 that sends 95 cents of every dollar to various charities supporting military veteran rehabilitation.

Tee It Up for the Troops was founded in 2005 and is led by a core of dedicated veterans and volunteers to garner public and corporate support for the needs of veterans and their families. Since 2005, they have raised more than $4 million for more than 50 various programs supporting military and their families.

Freedom is Sweet! provides restaurant operators numerous opportunities to raise funds for military charities and support this worthwhile campaign including:

Customer-funded contributions such as donations and discount coupons for future visits
Donating a percentage of sales from Veteran's Day-related sales
Designating a specific menu item whose proceeds support Freedom is Sweet!
Creating a specialty drink or dessert
Offering free meals or free menu items to veterans and members of the military

"The National Restaurant Association and the entire industry have supported military causes for decades. Moving forward, we believe that Freedom Is Sweet! can become a long-term, focused program to support and positively impact the lives of the active military, veterans and their families.," said David Gilbert, Chief Operating Officer, National Restaurant Association. "As more of our military service men and women return home, our industry will also work to ensure that careers are available to them and their families, especially as we work through the National Restaurant Educational Foundation to offer scholarships to those in the military seeking professional training in the culinary arts or hospitality management."

About the National Restaurant Association

Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises 960,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of nearly 13 million employees. We represent the industry in Washington, D.C., and advocate on its behalf. We operate the industry's largest trade show (NRA Show May 5-8, 2012, in Chicago); leading food safety training and certification program (ServSafe); unique career-building high school program (the NRAEF's ProStart, including the National ProStart Invitational April 27-29, 2012, in Baltimore, Md.) and college-level management program (ManageFirst); as well as the Kids LiveWell program promoting healthful kids' menu options. For more information, visit www.restaurant.org and find us on Twitter @WeRRestaurants, Facebook and YouTube.

About the Texas Restaurant Association

The Texas Restaurant Association was formed in 1937 to serve as the advocate in Texas and the indispensable resource for the hospitality and foodservice industry. Today, as a leading business association, TRA represents the state's $36 billion restaurant industry, which is comprised of 40,000 plus locations and a workforce of more than one million employees. Along with the Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation, the Association represents, educates and promotes the growing industry. www.restaurantville.com.

SOURCE National Restaurant Association