Tips for Tots
Continuing a tradition that started in 2006 by our Salisbury, MD restaurant, staffs at nineteen Greene Turtle locations donated the tips they earned on December 11, 2012 to purchase toys for local Toys for Tots programs to help bring the joys of the season to underprivileged children.
“Tips for Tots” was the selfless idea of Corlie Brice, a bartender at The Greene Turtle in Salisbury. She arrived for her shift one cold December night in 2006 and noticed a sign on the neighboring business, designating it as a “Toys for Tots” drop-off site. She decided to use whatever tips she took in during her shift to purchase toys for the program; additionally, she enlisted her fellow employees and publicized her intentions to guests coming into the restaurant to increase the potential donation. That evening, she and fellow bartender Chris Tingle took in $700, an amount that proved even more valuable when the manager of a nearby Ollie’s Bargain Outlet agreed to give her a discount on her purchases once she explained her intentions.
We are pleased to announce that this year's "Tips for Tots" event raised over $31,000! This money purchased toys for eleven Toys for Tots chapters across MD, DE, and VA.
Since the inaugural effort, The Greene Turtle has now donated over $60,000 in purchased toys to local Toys for Tots programs, through the tips donated by restaurant employees, the corporate offices and additional gifts donated by other members of the community. Guests have rallied to the cause, occasionally giving tips as large as $50 to $100 on the purchase of a single beer. The staff makes shopping with the donated funds a team effort; armed with trucks, vans, and holiday spirit, they visit a host of area retailers that have largely agreed to offer discounts. There was no way for Miss Brice to know on that day in 2006 how many thousands of lives she would affect over the years from her seemingly small, kind gesture.
Going to Bat for Our Communities
The Greene Turtle's a neighborhood hangout. That's why we do our best to help out in the communities where we live - with special events, team sponsorships, our famous Funds For Friends program, and more.
And it's not just a corporate commitment. The talented people who work at The Turtle are encouraged to become personally involved in the community. You'll see us coaching teams, attending Chamber meetings, donating tips to Toys for Tots and/or working soup kitchens - we're up for whatever it takes to make our communities better places to live.
Funds for Friends: Helping Local Organizations
Helping our communities is a team sport. That's the idea behind The Greene Turtle's 'Funds for Friends' program. It's how we team up with partners in our communities to raise funds that support local organizations.
We are also proud to announce that our Funds for Friends program recently won the National Restaurant Association's 2011 Restaurant Neighbor Award as a State of Maryland winner. We are extremely excited to receive this honor and hope that this award is another stepping stone for our continued support of each community we call home.
Here's how it works:
On selected Tuesdays of each month, participating The Greene Turtle locations host fund-raising events in partnership with community organizations. Our partners make each event a fantastic experience by organizing participation and bringing out their members, friends, family anyone who loves a good time. In fact, maybe we should call it Fun for Friends.
In return, The Greene Turtle donates a percentage of the day's receipts to that organization. And believe it, the funds really add up. We've donated nearly $750,000 since the program began, benefitting over 500 local organizations & community partners!
Does your local organization need extra funds? Don't wait. Contact the manager of your local The Greene Turtle now to find out how to set up your own Funds for Friends day. It's easy!
In return, The Greene Turtle donates a percentage of the day's receipts to that organization. And believe it, the funds really add up. We've donated nearly $750,000 since the program began, benefitting over 500 local organizations & community partners!
Does your local organization need extra funds? Don't wait. Contact the manager of your local The Greene Turtle now to find out how to set up your own Funds for Friends day. It's easy!
