Grant Benefits Computer Lab at Bolingbrook Non-Profit

Submitted by Heart Haven OutReach:

Heart Haven OutReach (H2O), a nonprofit organization that provides support and mentoring services to local high school age teens, announced it has been awarded a $3,000 grant as part of the Restaurant Community Grants program from the Darden Restaurants Foundation, Inc., the charitable arm of Darden Restaurants. 
 
The donation has enabled Heart Haven OutReach to refurbish the computer lab in the Bolingbrook Community Center, which is used every day for a variety of programs and is expected to support hundreds of students each year.  Among the programs that will benefit are a weekly college and career planning program offered through the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, as well as a new after school tutoring program run by Heart Haven OutReach called “Snack, Track, and Tutor.”
 
Darden’s Red Lobster, Olive Garden, and LongHorn Steakhouse in Bolingbrook each contributed $1,000 to this grant.  The grants program, now in its third year, empowers each restaurant in the Darden family of brands to help award a $1,000 grant to support local community programs.  Nonprofits receiving grants support one of Darden’s three key focus areas: education, preservation of natural resources, and hunger relief.  Darden’s Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, The Capital Grille, Eddie V’s, and Yard House brands participated in the program nationally.  Many restaurants and brands worked together to award one nonprofit organization with a larger grant and make a greater impact in their community. 
 
"We are thrilled to receive this generous grant from the Darden Restaurants Foundation,” shared Pat Claar, Heart Haven Outreach’s Executive Director.  “Our computer lab, used daily by H2O students or other youth programs in the building, was in dire need of updating.  The looks on the students’ faces when they returned from spring break to computers that actually worked were priceless!  We anticipate a lot more student usage now that the frustration of working with old, slow computers has been replaced with up-to-date technology!  Thank you, Darden!"
 
“We strive to make a positive impact in all the communities our restaurants serve,” said Gene Lee, Darden’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “Our employees are incredibly passionate about getting directly involved in their local communities, and our Restaurant Community Grants program enables each of our restaurant teams to make a difference right in their own backyard.”
 
The computer lab is currently open by appointment to registered participants of Heart Haven OutReach and other Bolingbrook Community Center programs.  Tutoring is available to high school students everyMonday after school and every day during semester exams.  With this new computer lab, Heart Haven OutReach looks forward to greatly expanding the tutoring program next school year.  To get involved, either as a student participant or volunteer tutor, call 630-226-8403 or email info@HeartHavenOutReach.org.
 
For more information about the Darden Foundation, please visit www.dardenfoundation.com. For additional information on Heart Haven OutReach, please visit www.HeartHavenOutReach.org.