That's a lot of meals
Houston Restaurant Weeks raises a record $1.2 million for Houston Food Bank
Mayor Parker, right, proclaimed Wednesday as "Cleverley Stone Day in Houston."Stone, left, poses with the mayor.Photo by Clifford Pugh
Houston Food Bank CEO Brian Greene, left, Cleverley Stone, middle and MayorAnnise Parker, right, celebrate a record haul for Houston Restaurant Weeks.Photo by Clifford Pugh
It felt as hot as a summer day on the steps of City Hall Wednesday, but that seemed somehow appropriate as officials announced that Houston Restaurant Weeks, held during the month of August, raked in a record $1.222 million for the Houston Food Bank.
"I had someone check the numbers because I was so pleasantly shocked," Houston Restaurant Weeks founder Cleverley Stone said.
The amount donated was a 52.8 percent increase over 2011, Stone noted, when around $800,000 was raised. "In today's economic climate that is incredible, and I say, thank you, Houston, Texas."
"I had someone check the numbers because I was so pleasantly shocked," Houston Restaurant Weeks founder Cleverley Stone said.
This year, nearly 170 restaurants offered a special $20 lunch and a $35 dinner, with $3 of each lunch and $5 of each dinner donated to the Houston Food Bank. Nearly 48,000 lunches and more than 205,000 dinners were sold, with an estimated $13.47 million spent on food, beverages, sales tax and tips.
Stone said the economic impact was likely higher because she conservatively estimated that diners spent $10 on beverages. Mayor Annise Parker agreed, noting that she dined out during Restaurant Weeks "and I know that for our table, it was a lot more than that amount."
Stone said the event began in 2003 at the suggestion of a friend. It ran for a week and netted $5,000 from 16 restaurants.
It has now grown so popular that it's become one of the best times of the year for Houston restaurants, said Del Frisco general manager Arthur Mooradian. "We used to take vacations in August and now we can't because it's become the busiest month of the year for us...August has become a great celebration month."
Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse came in as the top fundraiser, followed by Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, Americas River Oaks, Perry's Steakhouse & Grill — Memorial City and Masraff's.
Among the first-time participants was Tradicao Brazilian Steakhouse, with two Houston-area locations. Marketing director Melissa Abrantes proudly brought a mock-up of a check for $7,400 that was the portion they donated. "Next year we can do even better," she said.
Houston Food Bank CEO Brian Greene said that every dollar of the donation provides three meals to a needy family. "Every meal that was had at a restaurant, for us is 15 meals going out to some family in need or an individual," he said. "We are grateful to everyone who participated."
Houston Restaurant Weeks is an all-volunteer operation; 100 percent of the proceeds go to the Houston Food Bank. "This is the best kind of volunteer activity," Parker said. "It starts with a great idea, it continues with volunteer help and it grows every year through the generous contributions of the restaurants that participate and Houstonians that take advantage of it."
Parker proclaimed "Cleverley Stone Day" in Houston in honor of Stone's volunteer efforts.
