Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence Receives Grant from Darden Restaurants Foundation, Inc.

The Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence (BGCL) today announced that it has been selected to receive a $1,000 grant as part of the Restaurant Community Grants program from Darden Restaurants Foundation, Inc., the charitable arm of Darden Restaurants. The grants program, now in its third year, empowers each restaurant in the Darden family of brands to support local community programs.

The donation, made on behalf of LongHorn Steakhouse in Haverhill, will assist BGCL in continuing to ensure that local youngsters have access to the quality programs and services focusing on academic success, healthy lifestyles, and community involvement that help shape their future. In a city with a high school graduation rate of 61 percent, 96 percent of BGCL seniors graduate and pursue higher education.

“We are very appreciative of this grant, especially at this critical juncture concerning our budget,” said Markus Fischer, BGCL executive director. “Continuing support from the community truly makes a difference in helping us fulfill our mission of changing kids’ lives.”  

Darden’s Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, The Capital Grille, Eddie V’s, and Yard House brands participated in the Restaurant Community Grants program. Nonprofits receiving grants support one of Darden’s three key focus areas: education, preservation of natural resources, and hunger relief.

“We strive to make a positive impact in all the communities our restaurants serve,” said Gene Lee, Darden’s president and chief operating officer. “Our employees are incredibly passionate about getting directly involved in their local communities, and our Restaurant Community Grants program enables each of our restaurant teams to make a difference right in their own backyard.”

For more information about the Darden Foundation, visit www.dardenfoundation.com. To learn more about BGCL, go to www.lawrencebgc.com.

About the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence

The Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence provides a safe, after-school haven for more than 3,400 youth (ages 7 to 18) to come for hot meals, homework help, fitness and nutrition programs, college and career planning, and lasting personal relationships. The club offers critical programs that focus on academic success, healthy lifestyles, and community involvement at two locations: the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence at 136 Water St., and the Beacon Boys & Girls Club at 71 Duckett Ave. For more information, visit www.lawrencebgc.com.