1. What is the Restaurant Neighbor Award?
2. How do I apply?
3. When is the deadline for applications?
4. How many winners are there?
5. How are the winners chosen?
6. What do the state winners receive?
7. What are the criteria for the Restaurant Neighbor Award?
8. How is the Cornerstone Humanitarian Award different from the Restaurant Neighbor Award?

1. What is the Restaurant Neighbor Award?
   The Restaurant Neighbor Award is an awards program of the National Restaurant Association to honor restaurants for outstanding community involvement and innovative community programs.
   
   
2. How do I apply?
   
   • Complete the online application for the Restaurant Neighbor Award and/or the Cornerstone Humanitarian Award. Incomplete applications will not be eligible for the award.
   • Submit supporting materials such as letters of support, newspaper articles, photos or promotional materials specific to the community project (no more than 10 items will be accepted). All materials become the property of the National Restaurant Association and will not be returned.
     
     
3. When is the deadline for applications?
   The deadline to apply for the awards is June 5, 2009.
   
   
4. How many winners are there?
   There are four national winners:
   
   • One small business
   • One mid-size/large business
   • One large business/national chain
   • Cornerstone Humanitarian
   
   Each national winner will receive $5,000 to support their favorite charity or community project and an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C., to receive the award during a gala awards dinner in September 2009.
   
   
5. How are the winners chosen?
   Participating state restaurant associations can select winners from their state: one small business, one mid-size/large business, one national chain and one Cornerstone Humanitarian Award. The state winners are forwarded to the National Restaurant Association to compete for the national awards.
   
   The National Restaurant Association will convene a panel of judges representing the restaurant industry, the non-profit community and the media to select the national winners.
   
   
6. What do the state winners receive?
   Each state winner will receive a plaque to display in their restaurant and their community service program will be highlighted in a booklet produced by the National Restaurant Association that is distributed to the media and the restaurant community. The booklet is sent to the members of Congress from their state and district to help demonstrate the impact restaurants have in their community.
   
   
7. What are the criteria for the Restaurant Neighbor Award?
   Applicants should be involved in a community program or have their own project that has a strong impact in their community, either through funds raised or direct volunteer involvement. Factors that will be taken into consideration include:
   • Commitment/Involvement: How long has the restaurant been involved in community activities? How did the program evolve? How is the staff involved in the project?
   • Impact: What impact the restaurant's involvement has had or will have on the community (i.e. dollars raised, people fed, volunteer hour
   • Membership: While the award is open to members and nonmembers, membership in good standing will be one of the factors the judges will consider as it shows commitment to the industry overall.


8. How is the Cornerstone Humanitarian Award different from the Restaurant Neighbor Award?
   The Cornerstone Humanitarian Award is awarded specifically to an individual, not a restaurant, for his or her personal commitment to community service. A person can apply for the award or they can be nominated by another individual or organization.

Please contact Alyssa Prince at 800-424-5156 with any questions concerning your nomination or the Restaurant Neighbor Award program.