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Every month here on our blog, we'll be highlighting one of our non-profit partnerships. This month, learn a little more about the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

While Eat’n Park has focused much of its giving towards fostering healthier lifestyles for kids and their families, there are many other causes we’re passionate about - one of those being literacy! And we don’t just mean reading the Eat’n Park menu…

In Pittsburgh, Eat’n Park had teamed up with the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh in many facets. With 19 locations throughout Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, the mission of CLP is “to engage our community in literacy and learning.” They’ve been doing just that, since 1895. Not only does this library system contain almost any title you could ever dream of, they also offer exceptional programming for kids, teens, the blind and handicapped, or anyone looking to dive into a great work of writing.

But that’s not the only library we support! In 2011, Eat’n Park supported over 40 libraries in the neighborhoods we serve through corporate donations. Another 65 libraries received restaurant level donations from Eat’n Park. Smiley and the Cookie Cruiser have attended library events as well – turns out cookies love to read!

In all that we do for our neighbors, Eat’n Park’s focus is always the same – we want to take care of people. By supporting local libraries and their reading programs, we hope that we are helping to create brighter futures for readers of all ages.

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The wait is over…it’s time to introduce you to our newest addition to the Eat’n Park family: Hello Bistro! Located on Forbes Avenue in Oakland, Hello Bistro is a casual, street-front restaurant designed to incorporate two of Eat’n Park’s favorite menu items: the salad bar and famous (and award-winning!) burgers. Hello Bistro was also designed to fit in urban areas where we can’t fit a traditional Eat’n Park.




So, what’s Hello Bistro all about? Well, they’re like our sassy cousin – they’ve got some classic Eat’n Park favorites, with more than a few new twists thrown in…plus a little bit of attitude for good measure!


Let’s start with the classics. You can find our Superburgers, Ranch Dressing, Potato Soup, Coffee, and of course Mini Smiley Cookies at Hello Bistro.

As for some of the twists…Hold on to your seats ladies and gentlemen: Hello Bistro serves beer and wine! So for any of you who have always wanted to enjoy a nice cold beer with your Superbuger, Hello Bistro is your place.

Hello Bistro also serves up an extensive salad bar featuring 55 toppings. The best part: whether you get 5 or 15 toppings, the price is the same! What can we say…making people smile must just be in our blood!


In addition to burgers and salads, Hello Bistro offers up grilled sandwiches, breakfast (available all day), and milkshakes & floats. We are super excited about this new addition to Eat’n Park Hospitality Group, and we hope you’ll give it a try. Learn more at http://www.hellobistro.com/, or join Hello Bistro’s email club today!

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Cookie Monster said, “Sometimes me think, ‘What is love?’ And then me think, ‘Love is what last chocolate cookie is for.’ Me give up the last chocolate cookie for you.” Eat’n Park’s Team Smiley gave up the last of our Smiley Cookies to a few hundred children and families, last Saturday at the Carnegie Science Center.


The Science Center hosted Smiley’s 26th birthday bash, where visitors found much more than just cookies! As children and their families enjoyed exhibits the museum had to offer, they were invited to invent their very own style of Smiley cookie at our cookie decorating station. Birthday hats, card signing and stickers were a must as we celebrated in style with Smiley.


After going through many bags of icing and 60 dozen blank and decorated Smiley Cookies, we all paid a tribute to Smiley by singing happy birthday and indulging in quite a tasty birthday cake for his 26 years of smiles. Smiley’s party was a blast – Team Smiley was glad to have celebrated in a special place with such special people!

Ari
Team Smiley

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Team Smiley was invited to appear at the Man Up Father’s Day 5/10k this past Sunday. The three thousand runners, walkers, and family members who came to demonstrate their support for prostate cancer research and to celebrate their fathers humbled us, and the tone of the event made all participants gain a greater appreciation for family.


At the race, we passed out special Father’s Day Smiley Cookies to families. We handed out all of our 84 dozen cookies and were a popular stop for attendees. Our cookies weren't the only draw, though; Smiley also proved to be a huge hit with children!


Overall, we had a great day and were proud to support this important event. Thanks to everyone who attended!

Katie
Team Smiley

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Every year, our company rallies together to raise money for the local children’s hospitals and charities in the communities we serve. In our restaurants, our “Caring for Kids” campaign takes place over the holidays, featuring special events and fundraisers in each of our locations. Our other divisions get in the act, too – and not just over the holidays!

Parkhurst Dining, our corporate and campus dining division, annually holds a motorcycle run and classic car show benefitting the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Free Care Fund. This year, the event will take place on Saturday, June 30th, and we’d love for you to come out and join us!


For just $20, participants can ride their classic cars or motorcycles from West Mifflin to Washington, and receive a complimentary picnic-style cookout. Or, if you have someone riding on the back of your motorcycle, it’s only $35 for the both of you! And if you aren’t into riding, you can stop by the picnic to eat, have fun, and support a great cause for just $15.

The ride begins at 10:30 AM at the Hot Metal Harley Davidson in West Mifflin, PA and ends at the Steel City Harley Davidson in Washington, PA. For more information, click here.

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This promotion ended on July 27, 2012.


We’ve also added a fun new twist to Smiley’s Party – a coloring contest! Stop in to any Eat’n Park to get a coloring sheet, where kids can illustrate how they like to stay active. One winner from every restaurant will receive a Backyard Activity Kit, filled with all the makings of a fun, active summer – a basketball, jump rope, chalk, soccer ball, hula hoop, wiffle ball and bat, football, Frisbee, beach ball, and sunscreen.

Plus, one lucky grand prize winner will take home four Smiley bikes, so the whole family can stay active together.

Additionally, the birthday boy will be making appearances at many of our locations - just click here to see if and when he’ll be visiting YOUR Eat’n Park. Kids can personally wish Smiley a happy birthday, as well as decorate their very own Smiley Cookie.

Smiley will also be out and about in Pittsburgh. On June 23rd, he will be celebrating at the Carnegie Science Center - stop by from 11:30-1:30, when children will receive half off the price of admission with the purchase of an adult ticket. Later that day, Smiley will be rooting on the Buccos after he throws out the first pitch at the Pirates’ game. All those in attendance will receive a scratch & win ticket for Eat’n Park! Finally, if you haven’t been to the zoo yet this summer, you should stop by during Eat’n Park Family Week, June 30-July 8. It’s sure to be a roaring good time!

*99-cent kids' meals not valid on breakfast and brunch buffets or on takeout. Guest check must include one adult meal. Kids' treat bags available while supplies last.

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We care about our team members. A lot. Which is why every year we grant over $50,000 in academic scholarships to students who are working for us. We believe that making an investment in our team members is essential to the growth of our company.

This year we gave out 59 scholarships to college students and graduating high school seniors. Best of luck to the following recipients who will be starting their college careers this fall:

• Aliecia Anderson, Whitehall Restaurant - West Mifflin High School
• Benjamin Balish, Hampton Restaurant - Pine Richland High School
• Pamela Bonnett, Penn Hills Restaurant - Penn Hills High School
• Caitlyn Braun, McKnight Road Restaurant - Shaler High School
• Sarah Bruff, Austintown, OH Restaurant - Austintown Fitch High School
• Alyson Burchell, North Versailles Restaurant - East Allegheny High School
• Leah DeSantis, North Huntingdon Restaurant - Norwin High School
• Nina Italiano, Greensburg Restaurant - Hempfield Area High School
• Laura Littell, Weirton, WV Restaurant - Brooke High School
• Ashley Martin, Wheeling, WV Restaurant - Wheeling Central Catholic
• Stephanie McGee, McKnight Road Restaurant - Shaler High School
• Kenneth Petris, Canonsburg Restaurant - Canon McMillian High School
• Samantha Reich, New Castle Restaurant - Lawrence County Career & Tech Center
• Karly Sarver, Austintown, OH Restaurant - Jackson Milton
• Samantha Szumigalski, Franklin Park Restaurant - Eden Christian Academy
• Leeza Tokarski, Waterfront Restaurant - Obama Academy

Congratulations to ALL of our scholarship winners!


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