Time is closing out to nominate charities for The Partnership’s annual Restaurant Week.
The Partnership will stop taking charity nominations for the event at the end of the day on Friday.
Restaurant Week, now in its sixth year, allows people who are eating at participating restaurants to vote for a charity to receive a cash prize, which is sponsored by Cadence Bank. Restaurant Week is set for April 22-29.
Paige Watson, special projects and events coordinator for The Partnership, said about 30 restaurants are expected to participate in Restaurant Week this year.
“That’s really a lot of money and we really appreciate the local support from Cadence,” she said. “That can make a huge difference, especially for smaller charities.”
Partnership CEO Scott Maynard said anyone can nominate a charity for Restaurant Week.
“Any one individual can nominate their charity of choice to be considered for one of the top three charities for restaurant week,” Maynard said. “Once those top three charities are determined, during Restaurant Week, every time that you eat out, you’ll have a chance to vote for your favorite charity.”
Wilson said the Partnership has received “hundreds” of nominations, and encouraged people to continue submitting applications.
“I would tell people to get their nominations in because we want to have a good representation of charities,” she said. “We want to have a lot to choose from.”
Nominations can be made online at www.starkvillerestaurantweek.com under the “Nominate a Charity” tab.
Maynard said charities don’t necessarily have to be local, but should preferably have some sort of local impact.
“They typically have at least a local contact or impact,” Maynard said. “We’ve had the children’s hospital and places like that. Those types of places impact our community, even though they may be a statewide organization.
Last year, the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Children’s of Mississippi health care umbrella, Mississippi State University’s T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability and Starkville Young Life were selected for charities. The T.K. Martin Center won the award, which was the second time the organization has won a Restaurant Week prize.
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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