Restaurant.com and The Salvation Army's Metropolitan Division Partner to Celebrate the Gift of Giving Through 'Feed It Forward'

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., Dec. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Restaurant.com today proudly announced that it has partnered with The Salvation Army's Metropolitan Division in an effort to support "Feed It Forward"  2010, the holiday giving initiative that celebrates the gift of giving and enables participants to give away free, $10 Restaurant.com Gift Certificates. As part of the partnership, Restaurant.com will promote donations for the local division directly on the Feed It Forward website and has given the Metropolitan Division $3 million worth of Feed It Forward Gift Certificates to give to individuals who donate at participating Red Kettles.

"Feed It Forward is all about the celebration of giving and we wanted to make this year's initiative even more special by supporting an organization that inspires us through its generosity," said Cary Chessick, president and CEO of Restaurant.com. "As a Chicago-based company, we are excited to be able to work specifically with The Salvation Army's Metropolitan Division to give back to the local community, and we hope Chicagoans join us and support the Feed It Forward mission."

The Salvation Army's Metropolitan Division serves people in need in Greater Chicago, northern Illinois and northwestern Indiana. As part of the partnership with Feed It Forward, Restaurant.com has given the local division $3 million in Feed It Forward $10 Restaurant.com Gift Certificates. The gift certificates will be given in the form of a 4x6 card, printed with a certificate code for online redemption, to those who donate to select Red Kettles in Northern Illinois including the Chicago Temple, Midwest, Oakbrook Terrace and Norridge corps. In addition, Restaurant.com makes it possible for Feed It Forward participants to donate to the local division by offering easy access to the Salvation Army's online donation form directly from Feed It Forward web pages.

"We are thankful for the many donors who support the programs of The Salvation Army year round, and especially during our signature fundraising Red Kettle campaign at Christmas," said, Col. Ralph Bukiewicz, commander of The Salvation Army's Metropolitan Division. "We are pleased to partner with Restaurant.com's Feed It Forward program and through their generosity give some of our donors a gift certificate to thank them for their generosity this holiday season. We want to thank Restaurant.com for coming up with an innovative way to encourage Red Kettle donations."

In its third year, the award-winning Feed It Forward initiative is built upon a single giving website, stocked with $10 Restaurant.com Gift Certificates – www.Restaurant.com/FeedItForward. The site will be live through midnight PST on Dec. 31 and allows individuals to go online to give gift certificates, which are valid for Restaurant.com "store credit," on a first come, first serve basis. Gift givers choose whom to give to and gift recipients then decide where to dine among more than 9,500 participating Restaurant.com restaurants nationwide, with more than 450 participating restaurants in the Chicago area alone. Those who receive Feed It Forward Gift Certificates through The Salvation Army partnership redeem their gift certificates directly through the main Feed It Forward site, like all individuals who receive a gift via the program.

"As communities across the country continue to feel the impact the recession has made on their lives, it is organizations like The Salvation Army that remind us there is always hope even during the most desperate of times," said Chessick. "Here at Restaurant.com, we are humbled to be supported by our local Salvation Army division and hope Feed It Forward can also be a reminder of the simple joys that can exist from even the smallest act of kindness."

About The Salvation Army Metropolitan Division

The Salvation Army Metropolitan Division serves people in need in Greater Chicago, northern Illinois and northwestern Indiana. Among the assistance provided are feeding programs for homeless people, children, and seniors; emergency lodging for families and individuals in crisis; disaster relief; senior housing; substance abuse rehabilitation programs; spiritual counseling; youth programs; and early childhood development services. For more information about The Salvation Army or to donate or volunteer, please visit www.salarmychicago.org.

About Restaurant.com

Restaurant.com is the trusted and valued source connecting restaurants and diners nationwide. The company offers savings at more than 15,000 restaurants nationwide with more than 35,000 daily gift certificate options. Restaurant.com brings people together to relax, converse and enjoy well-prepared and -served meals at affordable prices. To date, Restaurant.com customers have saved more than $500 million through the gift certificate program. Restaurant.com has operated since 1999 and is based in Arlington Heights, Ill.

SOURCE Restaurant.com