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DARDEN RESTAURANTS

Supporting Kids

Police officers serve as celebrity servers at the College Station, Texas, Red Lobster, helping raise more than $1.2 million for Special Olympics.

COPS & LOBSTERS
Every year, law enforcement officials in the United States and Canada “invade” hundreds of Red Lobster restaurants, not as part of a police action but to participate in this unique program that benefits the International Special Olympics. The officers serve as celebrity servers in the restaurants, explaining to guests what Special Olympics is all about and asking for donations. The fiscal 2000 program raised more than $1.2 million for Special Olympics.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS
Bahama Breeze has made a commitment to supporting Boys & Girls Clubs wherever they do business, because the clubs benefit local kids, who represent the community’s and the country’s future. Before we open a Bahama Breeze in a new market, the restaurant hosts a $5-per-person “practice run” for local residents and business people, donating the proceeds to the local Boys & Girls Club.

Darden Restaurants Junior Achievement Volunteer Al Green teaches business basics to an 8th grade class at Carver Middle School in Orlando.

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT
Approaching its 40th anniversary, Junior Achievement continues to educate and inspire young people to understand and appreciate our free enterprise system and prepare them to join the workforce. JA’s programs start at pre-K and run through high school and are funded entirely by local businesses and contributions from foundations like Darden’s. Volunteers from the business community - including many Darden employees - use real-life examples, games and fun projects to teach students about the business world, global economics and practical skills like budgeting and the use and abuse of credit. Most important, the volunteers also serve as role models, giving the students a powerful demonstration of what they can achieve in life.

FLORIDA CITRUS SPORTS FOUNDATION
This Central Florida foundation provides a summer day program for high-risk boys and girls ages 10-15, featuring sports, martial arts and other activities. There aren’t a lot of services like this for kids in this age group, and the FCS Foundation program is particularly aimed at low-income children. The camp also brings in motivational speakers and others to inspire the kids to continue their education, and even provides computers so they can learn or improve their computer skills. Volunteers also provide medical exams and screenings.

Celebrating Diversity

NATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR COMMUNITY AND JUSTICE (NCCJ)
Darden was the national sponsor of the NCCJ Walk As One walk-a-thon for diversity, as part of the Darden Restaurants Foundation’s three-year $250,000 commitment to this important program that promotes racial harmony, understanding and justice. Thousands of young people participated in this year’s walk-a-thon, held in 21 major communities around the nation.

COMMUNITY ALLIANCE PROJECT
Darden’s Diversity Management Department continued our Community Alliance Project, through which we partner with local and national not-for-profit organizations like the Urban League, NAACP, NCCJ, and the African American, Asian American and Hispanic American Chambers of Commerce. The goal is to support diversity efforts, enhance national job recruitment opportunities and increase minority vendor partnerships.

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