Summit Thai Offers Discount to Help Disaster Relief in Haiti

When a tsunami devastated her native Thailand, Jirapan "Jenny" Bunnag had just opened Summit Thai on Maple Street. She wanted to help with the relief effort, but the demands of opening and running a business precluded her from doing so. But now in 2010, Summit Thai has a base of loyal customers and is doing well enough that it is able to help the people of Haiti, whose nation was rocked by an earthquake several weeks ago. For at least the month of February, five percent of Summit Thai's profits will go to the Red Cross.

Bunnag said she trusts the Red Cross and that Summit Thai's donation will get to where it is most needed. She credits Christine Hodde, executive director of the Colonial Crossroads chapter of the Red Cross, with being willing and eager to help.

According to its owner, Summit Thai's business is "good, but not great," and Bunnag planned to give loyal customers 10 percent off of all entrees during the month of February. She decided instead to donate when the disaster struck Haiti.

"Summit people don't care about 10 percent," she said. "Summit people just want to help."

At the end of February, Bunnag will give a check for 5 percent of the restaurant's total sales to the Red Cross. She would have to have a percentage deducted from every register transaction, but says a check for the whole donation at once is easier for the Red Cross. Summit Thai is operating with a small profit margin, and Bunnag is content to "break even." Assuming the restaurant does not lose money, the owners will most likely donate five percent of their March profits as well.

"I might raise $10,000, I might raise $500,000," said Bunnag. "Whatever I can, I will."

February looks to be a busy month for Summit Thai. The restaurant sold catering platters on Super Bowl Sunday and will have a special menu on Valentine's Day, when diners will bring home a handmade Thai potpourri gift. Bunnag has been advertising heavily for her events, creating promotional videos for her philanthropy and for her Valentine's Day event, and handing out flyers at the cash register. The more food Summit Thai sells, the more money it can donate.

It was the partnership of Presidents Clinton and Bush that inspired Bunnag. She thought that if a Democrat and a Republican can get along well enough to do some good, she and her community could certainly do so. She thinks of Summit as one big family.

"Why don't we cooperate together?" she said. "Help Haiti together?"