|
 |
|
 |
COLUMBIA RESTAURANT DONATES OVER $137,000 TO OVER 100 LOCAL NON-PROFIT GROUPS THROUGHOUT FLORIDA
|
| 10/22/2009 |
COLUMBIA RESTAURANT DONATES OVER $137,000 TO OVER
100 LOCAL NON-PROFIT GROUPS THROUGHOUT FLORIDA
Largest Donation to Date for Community Harvest - A 32% Increase Over Last Year
Also Planning Additional Benefits
TAMPA, Fla., October 27, 2009 - The Columbia Restaurant has donated over $137,000 to more than 100 local non-profit organizations throughout Florida as a result of their Twelfth Annual Columbia Restaurant Community Harvest held in September. The donation this year is the largest one made in twelve years of giving back to local non-profit groups. Over the past twelve years, the Columbia Restaurant Community Harvest has donated over $1,060,000 to non-profit organizations throughout Florida.
This year’s donation of $137,000 is a 32% increase from last year’s donation of $103,000. This donation also reflects a commitment made by Columbia Restaurant President and 4th generation family member Richard Gonzmart, to donate to the local St. Augustine area non-profit groups the same donation amount of the highest amount they had ever received from Columbia Community Harvests in the past, even though the St. Augustine Columbia was temporarily closed for a $1,100,000 renovation for this year’s Community Harvest.
“We are proud to be able to help these organizations that help so many in our great country and our state. We are fortunate to be able to help in a time when so many organizations are facing a decline in charitable gifts. This year was a record year and we look forward to making a bigger donation next year,” said Richard Gonzmart. “The Columbia Community Harvest is based on the family''s philosophy of helping others ever since the Columbia was founded in 1905. We have been blessed to be able to help so many non-profit groups with our Twelfth Annual Community Harvest,” he said.
The Columbia Restaurant Community Harvest program was developed by the Columbia Restaurant as a means of giving back to the communities that have supported the family business for over 100 years. Through this program, Columbia Restaurant donates 5% of all guests’ lunch and dinner checks to the charitable organizations chosen by their customers during the entire month of September. Participating locations were the six Columbia Restaurants in Tampa’s Ybor City, Sarasota, St. Augustine, The Pier in St. Petersburg, Sand Key on Clearwater Beach, Central Florida’s Town of Celebration, and at the new Columbia Café in the Tampa Bay History Center in Channelside Tampa.
The Columbia is involved with several other upcoming projects to benefit non-profit groups including the upcoming Third Annual “Auction for Action” to benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. at The Columbia of Ybor City. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is dedicated to advancing research, supporting patients, and creating hope for those affected by pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States, yet receives less funding per patient than other leading cancer killers. The Gonzmart family patriarch, Cesar Gonzmart, died from pancreatic cancer in 1992.
A fun event for the entire family is the Eighth Annual “Richard’s Run for Life” 5K taking place on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in Ybor City’s Centennial Park. Come on out and run, walk or to enjoy the food while helping researchers find a cure for cancer. 100% of all proceeds will benefit the Amandelee Fund for Sarcoma Research at Moffitt Cancer Center. The entry fee is $25 per person donation for pre-registration through November 2nd, and $30 per person donation after November 4th. Register at www.richardsrunforlife.org
The Columbia Restaurant was founded in 1905 and is Florida’s oldest restaurant. Locations include the flagship restaurant in Tampa’s historic Ybor City, St. Armands Circle in Sarasota, the historic district in St. Augustine, The Pier in St. Petersburg, Sand Key in Clearwater Beach, Central Florida’s town of Celebration, and the Columbia Café in Channelside, Tampa. All Columbia Restaurants are owned and operated by the Gonzmart family, fourth and fifth generation members of the founding family.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
