Two San Diego restaurants have received $25,000 grants as part of a non-profit partnership between celebrity chef Guy Fieri and the California Restaurant Foundation.
The California Restaurant Foundation, a non-profit that invests in and empowers California’s restaurants and its workforce, partnered with Guy Fieri to surprise five California independent restaurant owners with $25,000 grants during Guy’s Restaurant Reboot presented by LendingTree on June 12, 2021. The five beneficiaries selected by CRF to receive the “Help Restaurants Rebuild Grant” include PorchBox Restaurant in Laguna Hills, Lêberry Bakery & Donuts in Pasadena, Maya Halal Taqueria in Oakland, and San Diego's own Rollin Roots vegan food truck and Doggos Gus Mexican Gourmet Hotdogs in Imperial Beach.
"I’m honored to receive this opportunity from Guy Fieri and LendingTree and can’t wait to use the funds to expand into a brick-and-mortar restaurant and retain staff members during these times," said Avonte Hartsfield of San Diego-based Rollin Roots food truck. "This is a definite stepping stone towards reaching my lifelong goal of owning a thriving restaurant and I can’t express how grateful I am to Guy and LendingTree for their generosity."
Guy Fieri, who is most widely known as the host of Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives, is a longtime supporter and Emeritus board member of the California Restaurant Foundation. The goal of his "Help Rebuild Restaurants Grant" is to provide guidance and inspiration to the next generation of restaurant owners as well as bottom-line funding. In addition to the five recent recipients, an additional six individuals were awarded scholarships in partnership with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. In total, $300,000 was presented to California beneficiaries via grants and scholarships.
The California Restaurant Foundation is currently accepting additional support from corporations, foundations and individuals who want to aid in state's restaurant recovery. Donations of all sizes are accepted and celebrated at www.restaurantscare.org/resilience.
