National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Announces Call For Nominations For Prestigious Awards

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) announced today it has begun accepting nominations for its 2015 Restaurant Neighbor and Faces of Diversity American Dream awards. Applications and nomination forms are available online at NRAEF.org/Awards until Nov. 17, 2014.

Now in its 17th year, the Foundation's Restaurant Neighbor Award, founded in partnership with American Express, celebrates the outstanding charitable service performed by restaurant operators.  The Faces of Diversity American Dream Award, sponsored by PepsiCo Foodservice and founded in 2007, is presented to members of the restaurant industry who have, through hard work and perseverance, achieved the American Dream.

The Restaurant Neighbor Award honors winners in four categories: small business, mid-size business, large business/national chain and Cornerstone Humanitarian. Participating State Restaurant Associations select winners in their states, who will then be eligible for the national awards. Each national winner receives $5,000 to support their charitable giving efforts. The Faces of Diversity American Dream Award recognizes three individuals as national winners, who will have a $2,500 NRAEF student scholarship presented in their name.

"These prestigious awards honor the individuals and companies that truly exemplify what it means to be leaders in the restaurant industry and integral parts of their communities," said Rob Gifford, executive vice president, strategic operations and philanthropy for the National Restaurant Association and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. "The restaurant industry employs an incredibly diverse workforce of 13.5 million people — nearly one in 10 working Americans. Nominations we have received over the years showcase the demonstrable impact the restaurant industry has made in people's lives. We encourage those in the industry to nominate their employees and peers."

The national winners will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C., where they will be recognized at a gala awards dinner during the National Restaurant Association's Public Affairs Conference in April 2015.

For more information on the Restaurant Neighbor and Faces of Diversity American Dream awards, and to see compelling stories of the 2014 winners and finalists, visit the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation's website at NRAEF.org/Build-Talent/Industry-Awards.

About the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation:
As the philanthropic foundation of the National Restaurant Association, the NRAEF exists to enhance the restaurant industry's service to the public through education, community engagement and promotion of career opportunities. The NRAEF works to attract, develop and retain a career-oriented professional workforce for the restaurant industry. The restaurant and foodservice industry comprises 980,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of more than 13 million employees, making it one of the nation's largest employers. For more information on the NRAEF, visit NRAEF.org.

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SOURCE National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation