Grilling for a good cause

Red's Old 395 Grill to donate 10 percent of guest checks in November to local charities

By Jarid Shipley

Appeal Staff Writer

Buy a burger, and it could support the Boys & Girls Club. Munch on some chicken wings, and benefit Court-Appointed Special Advocates of Carson City. Order a beer, and it could pay dividends for Dance Spirit Performing Arts.

During November, patrons of Red's Old 395 Grill will be able to contribute to one of 30 local charities simply by placing their order, as part of the third annual Hand in Hand fundraiser. Carson City Economic Development/Redevelopment, the Nevada Appeal, the NextMedia Radio Group and MacWest Marketing are partnering with the restaurant for the fundraiser.

For the entire month, the restaurant will donate 10 percent of every guest check to the charity designated by the customers.

"Two-thousand and five is easily designated as a year of catastrophes, and it is incumbent upon all of us to give until it hurts and then give some more. But those who really suffer are the local charities," said Red's owner Jack Sterling. "This is a chance for us to give back to the city that has given us so much."

General manager Gary Anderson said the fundraiser is one of several ways the restaurant works to benefit the community.

"We do a lot of events and fundraisers for the community because we are here for the long run. Everything we do is to show that we are here to stay," Anderson said.

In addition to the donations given through guest checks, the charity that receives the highest amount will have that amount matched by the restaurant. The event raised more than $10,000 for local charities last year, with Wylie Animal Rescue Foundation receiving the most donations.

While there is no set monetary goal, the restaurant wants all guests to designate a charity on their bill, to maximize the amount given to local organizations.

"Our goal is to get the word out that it doesn't cost them a dime. We are hoping to have every diner pick a charity," said Miya MacKenzie, partner at MacWest Marketing. "It is a way to show their support for local charities without costing them any more money, simply by eating at Red's."

Sterling said, "We are giving away our profits for the month, but it's a small price to pay to be in a good community."

The restaurant is also working with the charities to have representatives in the restaurant to provide information about their organizations.

"The goal is to give these organizations the opportunity to expose more people to the great work that they do," Sterling said.

Red's Old 395 Grill is at 1055 S. Carson St. For information, contact Anderson at 887-0395.

Participating charities

Advocates to End Domestic Violence, Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada,

Brewery Arts Center, Carson Advocates for Cancer Care, Carson City Library Foundation, Carson City Sheriff's Explorer Cadets, Carson City Symphony Association, Carson High Culinary Arts Program, Carson High Drama Club, Carson Sertoma Club, Carson-Tahoe Hospital Foundation, CASA of Carson City, Children's Museum of Northern Nevada, Citizens for Affordable Homes, Inc., Community Council of Youth, Dance Spirit Performing Arts, Dayton High School, Fritsch Elementary School, F.E.A.T. of Carson Valley, Friends in Service Helping (FISH), Jacks Valley Elementary School, Kids and Horses Foundation, Kiwanis Club of Carson City, Mark Twain Elementary School, Mile High Jazz Band Association, Nevada Hispanic Services of Carson City, Northern Nevada Railway Foundation, Ron Wood Family Resource Center, WNCC Wildcat Athletics, Wylie Animal Rescue Foundation.

- Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.