Mary Lide Parker
Staff Writer
Eating out can also be a way of giving back at Elmo’s Diner in Carrboro.
On the first Tuesday of every month, Elmo’s Diner donates 10 percent of its total pre-tax profit to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation.
Micah Asby, a manager at Elmo’s Diner, said the first Tuesday of the month is always busy. A group of retired physicians routinely comes in for breakfast on that day, specifically to benefit the foundation. Many teachers also come in for breakfast and lunch. At dinner time, the restaurant is packed with families.
“It definitely increases business,†she said.
Elmo’s Diner participates in the “First Tuesday†program all year. Last year, the restaurant gave almost $6,000 to the Public School Foundation and they hope to give even more this year.
Cammie Brantley, co-owner of Elmo’s and a former teacher, started the “First Tuesday†program five years ago specifically to support local students who are learning English as a second language. The first donations bought supplies for school media centers to help students learn English faster.
Brantley also serves on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation Board, so she knows exactly where the funds from her business are going.
After five years of success, the Elmo’s Fund is now used more generally for grants and programs including multicultural education and teacher awards. Two teaching awards have been established through the fund: the Bud Stuart Chair for Promising New High School Teachers in Math or Science and the Elmo’s Award for Excellence in Teaching Foreign Language.
During the summer, money from the Elmo’s Fund may be allocated slightly differently. The money collected from June, July and August of 2007 was donated to Carrboro Elementary School for their playground renovation.
Elmo’s is not the only restaurant in town to give back to schools. Kim Hoke, director of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation, said in past years Nantucket Restaurant has donated to the Achiever Fund to support students who are struggling academically by providing them with tutoring or enrichment activities. Merlion Resturant in Southern Village raised money for Mary Scroggs Elementary School last spring. And Chapel Hill Taxi allocates a dollar for every taxi ride to a fund that is split between the Carolina Covenant and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation.
Other local businesses are now catching on to the trend. Mark and Kim Sterry, owners of TCBY at East Gate Shopping Center, were inspired by the Elmo’s “First Tuesday†program.
“We had already done some fundraisers for the N.C. Children’s Hospital but we wanted another way to give back to the community,†said Kim Sterry.
The program works the same way at TCBY as at Elmo’s. On the second Tuesday of every month, 10 percent of the total day’s business goes to the Public School Foundation. The first day of the program was Tuesday, Sept. 9.
“It’s just business as usual today,†said Kevin White, an employee at TCBY, on Tuesday. “But it’s good to know it’s going to a good cause.â€