Waste Not, Want Not

Through Darden's Harvest Food Donation Program, all of our restaurants across the United States now have a way to donate food they can't use anymore to food banks and other charitable organizations. These are items like mistakenly cooked meals and abandoned take-out orders that can't be served but are still delicious, nutritious and very appreciated by the organizations that receive them. "Many of these foods would be unavailable to the Soup Kettle Program without your gift," says Marlene Daubert of Zion Lutheran Church in Elgin, IL. "Your gift has meant not only the benefits of nutrition but also a real sense of quality." Since the program was first piloted in 2003, more than 1.5 million pounds of food have been donated to 465 charities around the country... and we're just getting started!

Preserving the Oceans' "Rain Forests"

Often called the "rain forests of the sea," coral reefs provide sustenance for more than 25 percent of the earth's known marine species. They are home to thousands of fish and other sea animals and plants, and are a source of new medicines for a variety of diseases. But, these delicate ecosystems are in a state of decline throughout the world, due to overfishing, pollution and global warming. Funded in part by the Darden Environmental Trust, a joint project of The Nature Conservancy, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Florida Department of Natural Resources is trying to reverse that trend by identifying "resilient corals" and learning what makes them heartier than others. With that knowledge, scientists hope to develop strategies to protect reefs. "Darden takes a long-range view and understands the need to invest in innovative environmental research projects such as this one," says Hans Kairies, associate director of Philanthropy for the Florida chapter of The Nature Conservancy.

Lessons of Tolerance from Anne Frank

The story of Anne Frank's family and her tragic death in a Nazi concentration camp teaches us about the horrific consequences of intolerance and racism. That was the mission of the Anne Frank Project: Lessons in Tolerance and Understanding, which was partially funded by Darden Restaurants Foundation grants. A joint effort of the Orlando Repertory Theatre in Orlando, FL, and the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center in Maitland, FL, this unique program included stage performances of a newly adapted version of "The Diary of Anne Frank," children's workshops, an exhibit of Frank family photos at the Holocaust Center, learning activities for local schools and community discussion groups. The program fulfilled two of the Foundation's goals: enhancing the visual and performing arts for children and families and fostering diversity, fairness and tolerance.

A Class Act

Recognizing that too few Latino high school graduates were going on to college for financial reasons and, of those who did, too many were dropping out, a group of concerned community leaders in Northern California established the Hispanic Scholarship Fund in 1975. Since then, the Fund has awarded more than $170 million in scholarships to more than 73,000 students throughout America. The program also offers mentoring and other support to recipients, with a goal of doubling the rate of Hispanics earning college degrees – in fact, more than 90 percent of recipients earn their four-year degree. A Darden Restaurants Foundation matching grant challenge in Dallas, TX, and Orlando, FL, is helping expand the funds available for those communities. "Darden is just an extraordinary community partner in the way they not only give, but do it in a way that stimulates the organizations to expand what they do," says Lizette Valarino, president of the Hispanic Heritage Fund.

More than a Safe Haven

Founded in 1980 by five survivors of domestic violence, the Jenesse Center in South Central Los Angeles serves mostly African-American and Latina women who are trapped in violent relationships. Much more than just a safe haven, the center offers a comprehensive program that includes counseling, health services, vocational and life-skills education, parenting classes, child enrichment programs and legal services. A Darden Restaurants Foundation grant is helping women in the program learn the skills they need to get and keep a job, an important step on the road to self-sufficiency. "Darden's generosity is affording us the opportunity to provide a full-time employment counselor to our clients and give them the full array of employment preparedness," says Adrienne Lamar, the center's associate director.