September 23, 2008
Contact: Annika Stensson (202) 973-3677, Mike Donohue (202) 331-5902

(Washington, D.C.) The National Restaurant Association today announced that Barry’s Café in Raleigh, N.C., has been named this year’s Restaurant Neighbor Award winner in the small business category. Owner Barry Doyle was presented the award and a $5,000 donation to the restaurant's cause during the Association’s annual Public Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C. on September 23. Now in its 10th year, the award celebrates the philanthropic spirit of the restaurant industry and serves to inspire others to actively get involved in their communities.

“Firefighters responsibilities go beyond fighting fires, and they are often first responders to any type of emergency situation, providing help and support for community members in need,” said National Restaurant Association President and CEO Dawn Sweeney. “Barry Doyle and his staff at Barry’s Café clearly recognize their dedication and this small restaurant has done an outstanding job providing support to those who risk their lives in a crisis situation. Barry’s Café is truly deserving of the 2008 Restaurant Neighbor Award.”

“Barry’s community work goes beyond supporting the local firefighters, but the profession as a whole,” said Paul M. Stone, President & CEO of the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association. “His creation of the ‘Feed the Firefighters Foundation’ will have a significant impact nationwide and bring even more awareness of the essential work of one of the few heroic professions. Barry is a shining example of what just one café owner can do to impact his country. Congratulations Barry, we are proud to have you a member of our community!”

Nearly 15 years ago, Barry’s Café owner Barry Doyle was inspired by the tireless efforts of local firefighters, and when an ice storm hit the Raleigh area, Doyle and his crew arrived on the scene with hot coffeee for the first responders managing the crisis. The firefighters quickly made the restaurant one of their favorite spots and Barry’s Café found a new mission.

The restaurant eventually created the “Feed the Firefighters Foundation” to support its work and has been supplying no-cost emergency foodservice to 75 fire stations in Wake County for 10 years, last year serving nearly 1,800 meals through its 31-foot mobile unit. Barry’s Café has been called in during storms to feed elderly without power, volunteers looking for someone missing, and National Guardsmen helping during the storm.

Doyle sees community service as part of the purpose of his business and holds 35 to 55 events a year, ranging from gas leak evacuations to search and rescue missions. In 2006, the restaurant acquired a mobile kitchen to support its efforts that is now on stand-by to feed about 60 people within a half hour of being alerted to a crisis. Many of Barry’s Café staff members volunteer their time to the efforts, and so do some customers.

To finance the Feed the Firefighters Foundation, the restaurant collects donations from customers, and companies and individuals within the community have contributed. The foundation is now helping other restaurants get involved in emergency foodservice. There is also a standing request for firefighters from across the world to contribute memorabilia to highlight their work and inspire guests. To date, memorabilia from all fifty states and several countries decorate the walls of the restaurant.

Restaurants from participating states were selected to contend for the national Restaurant Neighbor Award in four categories – small business, mid-size business, large business and Cornerstone Humanitarian. American Express is the founding sponsor of the awards program.

“American Express is proud to be partnering with the National Restaurant Association to honor restaurants across the country for the invaluable contributions they have made in their communities,” said Curtis L. Wilson, Vice President and General Manager, Restaurant Industries Group, American Express Company. “The impact restaurateurs have in their communities through charitable activities and relief projects is immeasurable. We are honored to work side by side with them and hope their commitment to community involvement inspires others to do the same.”

The National Restaurant Association developed the Restaurant Neighbor Award to recognize outstanding community programs across the country and to inspire other restaurant operators and owners to get involved.

Joining Barry’s Café in receiving the 2008 Restaurant Neighbor Award are: Chili’s Grill & Bar, headquartered in Dallas, in the large business category; Keystone Apple in Mechanicsburg, Pa., in the mid-size business category; and Valerie Daniels-Carter of V&J Holding Companies Inc., in Milwaukee, in the Cornerstone Humanitarian category.

Profiles of the national and state winners are highlighted in a booklet and on the National Restaurant Association’s Web site, www.restaurant.org/community.