Restaurant group raises funds for worker aid

Program aids industry workers impacted by virus

UWCHLAN » When the Lehigh Valley Restaurant Group began reopening indoor dining at its 21 area Red Robin Restaurant locations — it celebrated each grand opening with a fundraising commitment: 10 percent of the sales from each restaurant reopening would be donated to the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association.

Earlier this week, at an event held at the restaurant group’s Uwchlan, Chester County Red Robin, $20,250 was donated to the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association. The funds are designated for the restaurant association’s HARP (Hospitality Assistance Response of Pennsylvania) program, which provides emergency funding to hospitality workers impacted by COVID-19.

“Our focus has always been on community, so we are incredibly happy to welcome back employees and guests while doing our part to help hospitality workers who need financial assistance,” Mike Axiotis, CEO and president of the Lehigh Valley Restaurant Group, said in a press release. “We’re confident that with cooperation from guests, employers and the Commonwealth, restaurants will continue to operate with the health and safety as a top priority.”

The Lehigh Valley Restaurant Group’s Red Robin locations began opening their indoor dining on May 29, as Pennsylvania counties entered the green phase of reopening, which allowed indoor dining. Among the group’s restaurants are Red Robin locations Exeter, Berks County and Upper Providence in Montgomery County, as well as Uwchlan — which all reopened in June.

“Mike and his team at LVRG have been instrumental members of the PRLA. This donation to HARP is such a huge help, as it will assist nearly 88 hospitality employees throughout the Commonwealth,” Bill Covaleski, chairman of the PRLA and founder and brewmaster of Victory Brewing Company, said in the release.

The Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association launched HARP in April, to provide the immediate, emergency funding to hospitality workers — an industry that employs more than 700,000 — and hit hard by the pandemic. The aid is distributed as one-time, individual grants to for unemployed hospitality industry workers on first-come, firstserve basis, subject to the availability of funds.

According to the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, by mid-April, 96 percent of restaurateurs reported layoffs and furloughs and the average reduction of total staff statewide was about 85 percent.

According to information on the restaurant association’s website, 136 donors have contributed $230,702 to support HARP. To date, 922 people have received funds, including: servers, bartenders, front desk workers, housekeepers, receptionists, cashiers and cooks.

The PRLA is accepting applications and distributing grants as donations are brought in. Donations can be made online or by texting HARP to 44-321.

Lehigh Valley Restaurant Group Inc. is a Red Robin franchise covering the Lehigh Valley, Northeast, Southeast and Harrisburg regions.

The Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association strives to “promote, protect and improve” the hospitality and tourism industries in Pennsylvania.

SUBMITTED PHOTO The Lehigh Valley Restaurant Group, which owns 21 Red Robin Restaurants across the region including locations in Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties has donated more than $20,000 to the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association. The donation was presented at the restaurant group’s Uwchlan Red Robin. In this photo from left to right are: Ghassan Moussa, Lehigh Valley Restaurant Group regional operations director; Bill Covaleski, Victory Brewing Company founder and brewmaster, and Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging chairman; Megan Hales, manager of the Red Robin, Uwchlan; Emily Murray, Red Robin, Uwchlan team member; Mike Axiotis, Lehigh Valley Restaurant Group CEO and president; Mike Wermuth, general manager, Red Robin Uwchlan; Melissa Kauffman, Red Robin Uwchlan team member.