Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County today announced it has been selected to receive a $1,000 grant as part of the inaugural Restaurant Community Grant Program from the Darden Foundation, the charitable arm of Darden Restaurants Inc. The Restaurant Community Grant Program is a local grants program intended to help support nonprofit organizations in the hundreds of communities Darden and its restaurant brands serve. The donation will enable Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County-Forrest “Dusty” Rhode Portage Club’s project to educate members on Internet safety through the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s NetSmartz program. NetSmartz teaches members Internet safety skills through engaging multimedia activities and offline interaction with Club professionals. All members of the Forrest “Dusty” Rhode Portage Club will complete the NetSmartz program prior to being granted permission to use the Internet at the Club.
Restaurants within the Darden family – Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52 – are helping to award more than $1.7 million in local grants to nearly 900 exceptional nonprofit organizations nationwide. Nonprofits receiving grants support one of Darden’s three key focus areas: access to postsecondary education, preservation of natural resources and hunger.
“Kids aren’t always aware of the dangers of internet use and the safety precautions they need to take,” said Dawn Duty, Director of Resource Development of Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County. “The grant from the Darden Foundation will help us ensure our members have the knowledge and skills they need to use the technology safely.”
“Each grant is not just a check – it is an opportunity to make an impact, from providing essential supplies to food banks in Oregon, to mentoring students in Phoenix and supporting environmental education in New England,” said Drew Madsen, president and chief operating officer of Darden Restaurants, Inc. “Our service philosophy extends far beyond the walls of our restaurants. These grants bring that philosophy to life by helping to develop a better future for those we serve, one community at a time.”
Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County has been serving youth for 40 years. The Clubs provide programs for nearly 5,000 boys and girls in the areas of character and leadership development, educational enhancement, career preparation, health and life skills, the arts and sports, fitness and recreation.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County offers a wide variety of summer camps and programs. For more information on membership, volunteer opportunities or to make a tax deductible donation to Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County, please contact your local Club, call (219) 464-7282 or visit www.bgcpoco.org. Great Futures Start HERE.