We Bring Responsibility
Well before corporate responsibility became a well-established component of successful business strategy, Bill Darden, our founder and namesake, understood and lived the principles behind it. He created a company that operated both profitably and ethically; he respected and cared about his employees as much as he did the guests in his restaurants; he treated suppliers fairly and built mutually beneficial partnerships; and he gave back to the community. These principles continue to be defining characteristics of Darden Restaurants today and reinforce our position as a neighbor, business partner and employer of choice.
From funding worldwide research in support of conservation efforts to supporting the volunteer activities of our employees in their local communities, we are as passionate about being a good corporate citizen and community leader as we are about giving our guests an extraordinary dining experience. In particular, Darden supports programs and organizations that promote diversity, respect, fairness, inclusiveness and sustainability and those that provide opportunity to the underserved. We believe everyone should have a chance to realize their personal and professional dreams. The following are but a few examples of our commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others – which is ultimately what our core purpose “to nourish and delight everyone we serve” is all about.
The Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF)
Founded in 2003 in Washington, D.C., the APIASF is the
primary national effort to provide scholarships for Asian and
Pacific Islander Americans. With grants from donors, including
the Darden Restaurants Foundation, the organization is able
to help Asian and Pacific Islander Americans have the opportunity
to pursue higher education regardless of their ethnicity
or national origin. Scholarship recipients have hailed from
almost every state, and APIASF specializes in working with
these individuals and their families to make the most of their
college opportunity.
The College Fund/UNCF (Formerly The United Negro College Fund)
UNCF plays a critical role in enabling more than 65,000 students each year to attend college and get the education they want and deserve. In addition to providing operating funds for its 39 member colleges, UNCF administers 400 scholarship and internship programs that help promising students from low and moderate-income families afford college tuition, books and room and board.
Among other things, Darden's partnership with UNCF is providing scholarship funds to Hospitality Management majors at three Florida colleges and giving them internship opportunities at Darden.
The National Disability Institute (NDI)
Working-age adults with disabilities are three times more likely
to live in poverty and four times more likely to be unemployed
than their non-disabled peers. The National Disability Institute
is a nonprofit organization working to change that. Through
programs like the Real Economic Impact Tour, NDI provides
adults with disabilities the tools to modify thinking and behavior
and move toward economic independence and sustainability.
The Darden Restaurants Foundation is proud to partner with
NDI to help people return to work, preserve income and build
assets for a better, healthier economic future.
Orlando/Orange County COMPACT Program
Academic excellence, community involvement and building positive relationships are essential to educational success. Since its inception in 1989, the Orlando/Orange County COMPACT program has helped thousands of challenged students succeed in school and reach their potential by pairing them with local business professionals for one-on-one mentoring. Employees from Darden's Restaurant Support Center in Orlando enjoy serving as mentors at nearby Oak Ridge High School because they know they are helping shape their community's future. Through our corporate sponsorship and employee-mentor relationship, Darden is committed to helping COMPACT continue to open the doors of opportunity for at-risk youth.
Darden is committed to being of service, providing opportunity and making a positive difference for others in communities all across North America. We are proud to be a corporate citizen that acts ethically, responsibly and with a big heart in all we do. And we look forward to building on our tradition of caring, giving and doing.
For more information on Darden's corporate social responsibility and volunteer efforts, request a copy of the “Being of Service 2008” report or visit our website.
