Partner Spotlight: How Eat’n Park and United Way Create Change in the Community

Did you know Eat’n Park’s relationship with United Way dates back nearly three decades?  

“Jim and Suzy [Broadhurst] served as United Way campaign chairs in the ‘90s, and that was just the beginning of a relationship that has had such a positive impact on our region,” says Bobbi Watt Geer, PhD, President & CEO, United Way of Southwestern PA. 

At Eat’n Park, “Creating a Smile” means more than just a dining experience. It’s having an impact in the community in areas like food insecurity and helping families meet their basic needs every day, like through United Way’s 24/7/365 human services referral system, 211.  

“A good partner is one who is consistently present and supportive in the ways the moment calls for,” continues Watt Geer. “When I consider the many ways Eat'n Park has worked with United Way to better serve the community, I am struck by the consistency, legacy, and commitment to creating and expanding goodness in people's lives.” 

While Eat’n Park and United Way have been great partners for many years, the pandemic highlighted the importance of this connection and how it can directly impact local lives. As the United Way was faced with unanticipated urgent issues, one that quickly emerged was how students were going to access food without school breakfasts and lunches, and Eat’n Park had a solution.  

“Brooks Broadhurst and the team at Eat'n Park were already thinking about this issue when they approached PNC Foundation and United Way to develop a network that would deliver meals to families,” said Watt Geer. “This idea blossomed into the Student and Family Food Program that engaged Eat'n Park and a number of other foodservice providers to deliver more than 1.5 million meals over the first two years of the pandemic. That's being a good neighbor and playing your part in making the region a better place to live."