Staff Report

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. –Sarah Crane, Executive Director of the Delray-based HOW (Help Our Wounded) Foundation, today announced the first 18 local restaurants participating in the inaugural DINE FOR VETERANS WEEK, scheduled for Nov. 6-11. More participating restaurants will be announced later this month.

“We are so grateful and proud of our tri- county restaurants for joining us in supporting our local veterans who have traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress,” says Ms. Crane. “It is inspiring to watch the community coming together to show these men and women that there is support for them here in Delray Beach.”

During the six-day promotion, participating restaurants pledge to support the HOW Foundation by donating a percentage of proceeds during a specific time window, for any one given night or for the entire week. This donation could be based on a specific menu item or a straight financial contribution to the valuable nonprofit organization that increases awareness about the medicinal benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and raises supplementary funds for helping wounded warriors and other individuals receive treatment for HBOT indications not typically covered by insurance.

The first 18 participating restaurants include: Palm Beach County: Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, Bagels with Deli, Bonefish Grill, Café Centro, Cut 432, ER Bradley’s, Ellie’s 50s Diner, Gourmet Killer Dogs, Hero’s Bar & Grill, Johnnie Brown’s, La Cigale, The Livingroom, Mussel Beach, Patio Delray, Smoke BBQ and Tim Finnegan’s.

Broward County: Novel Tea and Pink Sub At the conclusion of the first DINE FOR VETERAN’S WEEK, every dollar raised up to $20,000 will be matched by the Ohrstrom Foundation.

“I am truly humbled by the outpouring of support by our restaurant community. The restaurant owners share my belief that it’s time we address the mental health needs of our local veterans,” says Gregg Weiss, Chair of the HOW Foundation Ambassadors. “My message to the South Florida restaurant community: You can make such a significant impact in the lives of our veterans by doing what you do best, serving some of the most fun, creative cuisine in the country.”

Adds Hillary Loftus, the HOW Foundation’s Community Engagement & Advocacy Director: “I am proud to be working with Help Our Wounded Foundation and DINE FOR VETERANS to spread the word about how hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps those with neurological issues such as post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injuries and to raise the funds to pay for our veterans who need and deserve this treatment for their ‘invisible wounds.’ This will help these veterans and their families ‘get back to normal’ and enjoy the fruits of their labors and hard won American freedoms along with the rest of us who are grateful for their sacrifices on our behalf. It’s exciting and gratifying to see our South Florida restaurants and corporations pitching in to help this effort that has far reaching positive effects on our communities.”

Food blogger Denise Righetti said, “As Founder/CFO (Chief Foodie Officer) of Savor Our City, I chose to get involved in the DINE FOR VETERANS campaign because I am passionate about supporting worthwhile causes such as this and when they are tied to my other passions (food & wine), even better!”

In addition to Crane’s Beach House Hotel, DINE FOR VETERANS WEEK sponsors include TrainerSpace, Welder Services, Inc., Boca Life Magazine, Edible South Florida, Florida Weekly, Savor Tonight, Boca Locals, Florida Food & Farm and Take a Bite Out of Boca.

For more information about this special pro- motion and a full list of all participating restaurants, please visit www.dineforveterans.com.