Houston Restaurant Weeks Breaks Fundraising Record

HOUSTON, TX — Records are meant to be broken, and that's exactly what Houston Restaurant Weeks (HRW) has done.

The organization, which since 2003 has been raising money for the Houston Food Bank, said today that its 2016 program raised $2,015,157.77, a sum that will pay for 6,045,473 meals the food bank will serve to food-insecure individuals in the Houston area.

“What started as an idea in 2003 to raise money for the Houston Food Bank has happily become a citywide marriage of food and fundraising. It’s a win-win-win," said Cleverley Stone, founder of HRW, at a press conference announcing the results. "The restaurants, Houstonians who enjoy dining out, and the Houston Food Bank all look forward to HRW each year. I give my heartfelt thanks for the extraordinary efforts by participating restaurants, the sponsors and volunteers who all donate their resources, time and money to make HRW happen every year. And thank you to the diners for patronizing HRW restaurants in August. Without all of you there would be no HRW.”

HRW has raised more than $9.6 million for the food bank since 2003.

“Because Cleverley is selfless in donating five months of her time each year to Houston Restaurant Weeks along with other volunteers, 100% of donation proceeds from Houston Restaurant Weeks come directly to the Houston Food Bank to feed hungry people,” Houston Food Bank’s president and CEO, Brian Greene, said at the conference. “It’s an amazing endeavor by an extraordinary individual who understands that food is essential to the health and wellbeing of all children, seniors and adults in our community. We are grateful for Cleverley’s compassion and longstanding commitment to hunger relief.”

Here are the Top Ten HRW 2016 Donors to the Houston Food Bank:

1. B&B Butchers and Restaurant

2. Peli Peli / Galleria

3. Brennan’s of Houston

4. Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House

5. Masraff’s

6. The Capital Grille / CityCentre

7. Americas / River Oaks

8. Del Frisco’s Grille / Houston

9. Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse

10. Eddie V’s Prime Seafood / CityCentre

— Image courtesy Houston Restaurant Weeks