CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY (continued)

ProStart

The program's growth created the need for a larger facility with a commercial kitchen, and a Darden Restaurants Foundation grant helped pay for the new kitchen's equipment. In partnership with the Kid's Cafe Program of America's Second Harvest food banks, H.O.P.E Farm feeds the children a hot meal every day after school, and in the summer provides breakfast, lunch, and a snack.

"What we do at H.O.P.E. Farm is address the spirit, mind, and body of these children. Darden has helped us address a major component of that," Randle says.

ENRICHING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH ART & CULTURE

Enzian Theater
Since 1985, the Enzian Theater in Maitland, Florida, has aspired to entertain, inspire, educate, and connect the community through film. Enzian is the oldest full-time, not-for-profit cinema in Florida, and also sponsors the Florida Film Festival, recently recognized as one of the world's top 10 film festivals.

The theater also hosts various multi-cultural film festivals, which celebrate Florida's finest independent film and video makers and provide a view of diverse cultures, while illuminating the commonalities we all share.

Since its inception, Enzian has screened more than 3,375 films to more than one million people, which puts plenty of wear and tear on its facilities. "We desperately needed to refurbish it and replace the tables and chairs," says Theater President Sigrid Tiedtke. "A Darden Restaurants Foundation grant helped us furnish a good part of the redo of our theatre, and we're thrilled about that."

The Darden Restaurants Foundation grant also helped fund "Popcorn Flicks," an outdoor cinema series offering family-friendly classic films at a park in the heart of the city's downtown. "There's just a wonderful community aspect to this series," Tiedtke says. "People of all ages and socio-economic groups bring their blankets, have picnics and visit with each other. It really is just a lovely time with family and friends.

"We aspire to bring great stories to the community, stories that make our lives more meaningful," Tiedtke says. "We see ourselves as a window to a world of expanded respect, wisdom, and creativity."

EDUCATING FUTURE LEADERS

Showcase of the Stars
Through Showcase of the Stars, minority and economically disadvantaged high school students learn about careers in the restaurant industry from top restaurant and foodservice industry professionals who are also minorities. The traveling event was created by the non-profit trade group, Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance, to promote the many career opportunities available in the restaurant, foodservice, and lodging industries.

That mission dovetails perfectly with the goals of the Darden Restaurants Foundation and the Illinois Restaurant Association (IRA) Educational Foundation, which focuses on building Illinois' hospitality workforce through career exploration programs, scholarships, and other programs. The Darden Restaurants Foundation funded a grant to enable the IRA Educational Foundation to bring the Showcase of the Stars to Illinois students.

Many minority youths are unaware of the diverse career options the restaurant and foodservice industry offers. The Showcase of the Stars hopes to change that. "Many of the students we talk to don't really know much about the multitude of opportunities in this industry," says IRA President Colleen McShane. "Most know about being chefs, but many are surprised to learn there are management opportunities, as well as jobs in software design, facilities management, finance, accounting, and other restaurant-related support jobs."

The event has attracted hundreds of young people to the industry. "Showcase of the Stars gives students a wonderful chance to experience a world of opportunities in this industry," says McShane.

SUSTAINING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES

Perry Institute for Marine Science
In many communities throughout the world, people depend on lobster for their livelihood. Not only is it a source of food, but it also provides jobs and income. The world's desire for this delectable crustacean, though, has put enormous pressure on the population of the spiny lobster, one of the most valuable fishery species in the Caribbean.

Unlike shrimp, many types of fish, and even scallops, scientists have never been able to "farm" lobsters from egg to adult using aquaculture. But, Dr. Craig Dahlgren, Senior Research Scientist at the Perry Institute for Marine Science/Caribbean Marine Research Center, says a grant from the Darden Restaurants Foundation is helping the Institute make progress in this area. "We're focusing our research on the Bahamas and Belize because these areas contain two of the most important lobster fisheries in the Caribbean," says Dr. Dahlgren. "And because these fisheries are close to their maximum level of productivity, it's important for their survival to find a way to increase lobster stocks to meet the increasing demand for lobsters. The Darden grant is helping us find ways to do that without putting the species or the environment at risk."