The totals are tallied, and 2018 Kansas City Restaurant Week (KCRW) presented by Sysco Kansas City was the most successful in the dining event’s nine-year history, raising $427,000 for three local nonprofit organizations: Kansas City Community Gardens, the Kansas City Regional Destination Development Foundation and the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. The total represents a 25-percent increase over the 2017 charity total and more than $4.2 million in sales across 193 participating restaurants, all records as well.
Each January, KCRW raises funds for local charities with 10 days of special lunch and dinner menus created by and offered at participating restaurants. Of the total sales from KCRW menus, 10 percent is donated to the nonprofit beneficiaries. KCRW has now raised nearly $2.2 million for local charities since its inception in 2010.
“Receiving our share of the donations from 2018 Kansas City Restaurant Week means Kansas City Community Gardens will be able to expand its reach beyond the 25,000 families we currently serve, as well add to the one million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables our member families harvest each year,” said Courtney Foy, Kansas City Community Gardens director of development and marketing. “Kansas City Community Gardens is so thankful for our partnership this year with Visit KC, Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association, and all of the restaurants that participated in 2018 Kansas City Restaurant Week”
2019 KCRW Community Beneficiary
KCRW’s founding partners, the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association and Visit KC, are proud to announce The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City as the 2019 KCRW community beneficiary. The Kansas City, Missouri-based organizations works to promote the development of self-esteem, values and skills for boys and girls, ages 5-18, with special emphasis on youth from disadvantaged circumstances.
The Kansas City Regional Destination Development Foundation, administered by Visit KC, and the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association Educational Foundation will also be beneficiaries again for the 2019 event.
2019 KCRW Dates
The 10th Annual Kansas City Restaurant Week presented by Sysco Kansas City is set for Jan. 11-20, 2019. Early-bird registration for restaurant participants is planned to open on Friday, July 13 at KCRestaurantWeek.com.
About Kansas City Restaurant Week - Kansas City Restaurant Week (KCRW) is KC’s premier dining event founded by the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association and Visit KC in an effort to support the regional restaurant community. 2018 marked the ninth year for the 10-day dining event, spotlighting KC as one of the country's premier dining and vacationing destinations. Each year, KCRW partners with local charities to raise funds for deserving causes. For more information, visit KCRestaurantWeek.com, become a fan on Facebook at Facebook.com/KansasCityRestaurantWeek, follow on Twitter at @RestaurantWeek or Instagram at @KCRestaurantWeek.
About Kansas City Community Gardens - Kansas City Community Gardens (KCCG) is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization that has been working with low-income families and community groups to grow their own food for 38 years. Having established over 600 Community Partner Gardens, Schoolyard Gardens, Giving Grove Orchards, and Youth Gardens, KCCG is increasing access to fresh and nutritious foods for Kansas City residents living in food deserts and on limited incomes. Each year over 25,000 households work with KCCG to harvest more than 1 million pounds of fruits and vegetables, empowering them to take control of their own food system, their communities, and their health. For more information, visit www.kccg.org.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City - For more than 100 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City has provided youth, ages 5-18, a fun and safe environment for to learn, play, meet new friends and grow -- with special emphasis on youth from disadvantaged circumstances. From sports, digital arts and media to group activities and tutoring, the Clubs provide a caring adult mentors, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character, citizenship, and healthy lifestyles to more than 1,000 area youth each day. Whether it is learning how an individual can make a difference in his/her community or learning how to swim – the Clubs strive to help youth feel important and put their dreams of a Great Future within reach. More information about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City can be found online at www.helpKCkids.org.
Kansas City Regional Destination Development Foundation - Administered by Visit KC, the foundation focuses primarily on the identification, development and advocacy of tourism products in Kansas City and its surrounding communities. The KCRDDF oversees the Visit KC Visitor Influencer Program and provides career development opportunities in tourism, with specific interest in at-risk populations, including youth, minorities and seniors. For more information, go to VisitKC.com/foundation.
About Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association Educational Foundation - Administered by the GKCRA, the foundation seeks to promote the restaurant industry in the greater Kansas City area by offering scholarships to students pursuing a career in the hospitality industry.
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