DiRoNA Week 2005 - Serving Up Fine Dining for a Cause; First-ever North American Restaurant Week to Fight Childhood Hunger Aug. 22-26

NEW YORK, May 16 -- What if you knew that the cost of your next restaurant meal would be donated to a food bank or Boys & Girls club in your own community? Wouldn’t it make each bite that much sweeter?

That is the goal of DiRoNA Week 2005, an initiative under way this year by the Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA) and Share Our Strength (SOS). On Aug. 22-26, customers dining in participating DiRoNA Award-winning restaurants across North America can join in the fight against childhood hunger.

During DiRoNA Week, select restaurants that have earned the prestigious DiRoNA Award of Excellence will offer a special prix- fixe menu, donating a portion of proceeds to Share Our Strength, a nonprofit organization that fights childhood hunger on local, national and international levels by awarding grants to nonprofit organizations and offering nutrition-education training. SOS has raised more than $188 million to fund more than 1,000 anti-hunger organizations worldwide since it was founded in 1984.

DiRoNA Week will give the premier dining establishments in the U.S., Mexico and Canada an opportunity to showcase their unique menus while raising funds for an important cause. Each participating restaurant will feature a three-course DiRoNA Week meal, with prices varying by city.

“Nobody knows the importance of a healthy meal more than those in the restaurant and foodservice community,” said Larry Work, chairman of DiRoNA and president of Sam & Harry’s Management Company, which owns and operates two DiRoNA Award-winning restaurants -- Sam & Harry’s and The Caucus Room -- in Washington, DC. “Tens of thousands of individuals and families are at risk for hunger. We are proud to partner with a great organization like Share Our Strength to launch this initiative and make a difference throughout Canada, the United States and Mexico.”

DiRoNA serves as an independent restaurant-industry authority for recognizing and promoting excellence in dining. Headquartered in New York, N.Y., DiRoNA is the only organization of its kind to offer a fine dining guarantee in all of North America.

Consumers can make reservations now to help fight childhood hunger while dining in one of North America’s finest restaurants. Information and updates about DiRoNA week, as well as a list of participating restaurants can be found on http://www.dirona.com.

About DiRoNA

DiRoNA was established in 1990 to promote the fine dining industry. This non-profit organization conducts independent restaurant inspections and offers the only fine dining guarantee in North America. The DiRoNA Award of Excellence is bestowed upon only the most distinguished fine dining establishments. To be eligible, restaurants must be in operation, under the same ownership, for a minimum of three years. The rigorous, anonymous, 75-point inspection process scrutinizes every aspect of the dining experience-food, wine, service, physical property and décor. To date, nearly 800 restaurants have received the DiRoNA Award.

About Share Our Strength

Share Our Strength, leading our nation in the fight against childhood hunger, is committed to building the first hunger-free generation in America. More than 13 million children face hunger in our country, and through innovative fund-raising opportunities -- from holding volunteer-led special events to developing unique corporate partnerships -- Share Our Strength is working to make sure these children will have access to nutritional foods that allow them to learn, grow and thrive. Since its founding in 1984, Share Our Strength has raised more than $188 million, supporting more than 1,000 anti-hunger, anti-poverty organizations in North America and abroad. For more information please visit http://www.strength.org

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