Dine Out at BRAVO! Cucina Italiana and BRIO Tuscan Grille in September and Help End Childhood Hunger

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In America, one in five children struggle with hunger. This September, BRAVO! Cucina Italiana and BRIO Tuscan Grille are joining thousands of restaurants nationwide to support Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® campaign by raising funds in their restaurants. BRAVO! and BRIO are owned and operated by Columbus-based BRAVO I BRIO Restaurant Group (BBRG).   

Families Feeding Families! – Encouraging Healthy Meal Planning
From now through Sunday, September 14, 2014, for every Pasta Presto! family meal for four to-go sold at BRAVO!, and every Pasta Pronto meal for four to-go sold at BRIO, BBRG will donate 10 percent of sales to the No Kid Hungry campaign, and each guest will receive $5 off any BRAVO! or BRIO visit in October. Pasta Presto! and Pasta Pronto offer delicious and healthy family-style meals, with a choice of one of three salads and one of five pastas, plus housemade bread. 

Guests Dining & Donating to Make a Difference
Every donation counts, and when BRAVO! and BRIO guests donate $5 or more to the No Kid Hungry campaign, they will receive $5 off their next visit of $15 or more, valid thru Oct. 31, 2014. It's easy to donate, as guests will be able to add their donation to their bill upon checkout. 

For more information on BRAVO! and BRIO and these September events, visit www.bravoItalian.com or www.brioitalian.com.

"At BBRG and every BRAVO! and BRIO restaurant nationwide, we make giving back to important causes one of our greatest priorities," said BBRG Director and Chief Executive Officer, Saed Mohseni. "By participating in Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign, we are proud to once again be a part of the nationwide effort to end childhood hunger."

In 2013, nearly 9,000 restaurants raised $7.5 million for the No Kid Hungry campaign. No Kid Hungry funds are used to raise awareness about child hunger in the U.S., create public-private partnerships that align kids with the resources they need, support nutrition programs like School Breakfast and Summer Meals, and educate kids and their families on how to cook healthy meals with limited resources.

In 2013, BBRG restaurants collected enough donations, totaling over $108,000 from both their online and in-store promotions, to help connect children in need across the country to 1 million meals.* In 2014, BBRG hopes to raise $150,000 through its Guests Donating to Make a Difference initiative alone.

"Everyone – private citizens, businesses, policymakers, and nonprofits – has a role in helping end childhood hunger in America," said Billy Shore, Founder and CEO of Share Our Strength®. "I encourage everyone to dine out often at participating restaurants wherever they are this September. Then visit NoKidHungry.org to join this national movement to ensure that every child in America has access to the nutritious food they need, every day."

*This amount was determined on the basis that $1 can help connect a child with up to 10 nutritious meals, which is, in turn, based on the individual experiences of Share Our Strength's grant recipients. It is provided to illustrate how community investments can be used to help end childhood hunger. Each contribution made to Share Our Strength represents a contribution to its original mission. Donations will be used to reach the highest number of children facing hunger in America. Share Our Strength is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization.

About BRAVO | BRIO Restaurant Group, Inc.
BRAVO | BRIO Restaurant Group, Inc. is a leading owner and operator of two distinct Italian restaurant brands, BRAVO! Cucina Italiana and BRIO Tuscan Grille. BBRG has positioned its brands as multifaceted culinary destinations that deliver the ambiance, design elements and food quality reminiscent of fine dining restaurants at a value typically offered by casual dining establishments, a combination known as the upscale affordable dining segment. Each of BBRG's brands provides its guests with a fine dining experience and value by serving affordable cuisine prepared using fresh flavorful ingredients and authentic Italian cooking methods, combined with attentive service in an attractive, lively atmosphere. BBRG strives to be the best Italian restaurant company in America and is focused on providing its guests an excellent dining experience through consistency of execution. For more information, visit www.bbrg.com.

About BRAVO! Cucina Italiana
BRAVO! Cucina Italiana is a "polished casual" restaurant offering classic Italian food amongst the shadows of Roman ruins. The subtitle "Cucina Italiana" means Italian kitchen, in which all cooking is done in full view of the guest, creating the energy of a live theater. BRAVO's popular entrees include grilled steaks, chops, and made-to-order pizzas, pastas and house specialties, similar to an authentic 'ristorante' in Italy. BRAVO! is part of Columbus-based BRAVO I BRIO Restaurant Group. Founded in 1992, BRAVO I BRIO Restaurant Group currently operates more than 100 restaurants in 33 states including BRAVO! Cucina Italiana, BRIO Tuscan Grille and Bon Vie Bistro. Please visit the Web site, BravoItalian.com for a list of locations, and to follow the restaurant on Twitter (@bravo_italian) and Facebook (facebook.com/bravoitalian).

About BRIO Tuscan Grille: 
BRIO (meaning "lively" or "full of life") is a "polished casual" restaurant serving authentic, northern Italian cuisine.  The subtitle, "Tuscan Grille" is descriptive in the menu that features oven-roasted steaks, chops, and seafood, similar to what one would find in an authentic ristorante in Tuscany.  BRIO's philosophy is "to eat well, is to live well"; which is why it only uses the finest and freshest ingredients.  BRIO brings the pleasure of the Tuscan country villa to the American city.  BRIO is part of Columbus-based BRAVO|BRIO Restaurant Group (BBRG).  Founded in 1992, BBRG currently operates more than 100 restaurants in 33 states including BRAVO!  Cucina Italian, BRIO Tuscan Grille, and Bon Vie Bistro.  Please visit the website for BRIO locations at www.brioitalian.com and follow the restaurant on Twitter (@brioitalian) and Facebook (facebook.com/brioitalian).

About Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® Campaign:
No child should grow up hungry in America, but one in five children struggles with hunger. Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® campaign is ending childhood hunger in America by ensuring all children get the healthy food they need, every day. The No Kid Hungry campaign connects kids in need to effective nutrition programs like school breakfast and summer meals and teaches low-income families to cook healthy, affordable meals.  This work is accomplished through the No Kid Hungry network, made up of private citizens, public officials, nonprofits, business leaders and others providing innovative hunger solutions in their communities. Join us at NoKidHungry.org.

Contact:         
Durée Ross / Durée & Company, Inc.
954-723-9350 T
Email

SOURCE BRAVO | BRIO Restaurant Group, Inc.