News Category: Community Impact

Over $1 Million Distributed to New and Established Restaurants Nationwide From Grubhub and The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund

BOSTON, MA –Grubhub and The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund are pleased to announce over $1 million in grants have been distributed to 140 small business restaurants across the nation. Made possible by the Grubhub Community Fund, the latest cycle of the Restaurant Strong Grant aims to bolster new restaurants and long–standing establishments alike.

In their fourth year of partnership, the Restaurant Strong Fund and Grubhub continue to recognize the challenges faced by small businesses and remain dedicated to supporting their journey toward success. The latest grant cycle has taken a special interest in supporting new restaurants, those in operation for three years or less, giving more than $350,000 to aid in their introduction to the restaurant industry.

Independent restaurants play an essential role in the local communities nationally, offering not just meals but unique culinary experiences, fostering connections, and contributing to the economic vibrancy of our cities and towns. To date, the Restaurant Strong Fund and Grubhub have distributed over $17M in grants to restaurants across the nation.

The 140 selected grant recipients from this cycle will receive much–needed resources for their small businesses. Funds will assist a spectrum of needs including, technology upgrades, equipment enhancements, marketing and public relations services, staff training programs, incentivized wages, maintenance and updating to current infrastructure, and construction or expansion of outdoor seating areas.

The small business restaurants receiving grants from the Restaurant Strong Fund include:

New Restaurant Grant Recipients
$15,000 Grant Recipients
Awaze Ethio Fusion & Vegan, Artesia, CA
Casablanca Mediterranean Grill, Philadelphia, PA
Dong–ne: Korean Cuisine, Chicago, IL
Gotti’s, Houston, TX
Ojai Burger, Orange, CA
Plazita Mexico Tacos, Wakefield, MA
Tatit’s Mediterranean Saveur, West Fargo, ND
The Gumbo Gourmet, Atlanta, GA

$10,000 Grant Recipients
4th Street Standard, Steubenville, OH
An An, Portland, OR
Café on Eighth, Augusta, GA
Chimba, Miami, FL
Dim Sum King, Sunnyvale, CA
Il Milanese, Chicago, Il
Lily’s Soups and Scoops, Cranston, RI
Luckey’s BBQ Place, Marietta, GA
Michaux Brewing Company, Waynesboro, PA
Orchid House Café, Trenton, NJ
Pepper Pot Philly, Philadelphia, PA
Pleroma Cuisine, Laurel, MD
Tea Dojo, Vacaville, CA
$5,000 Grant Recipients 
Aji Omakase, Chicago, Il
Bab Al–Yemen Restaurant, Boston, MA
Bangkok Thai & Japanese Restaurant, Liverpool, NY
Bar Vianzo, Brooklyn, NY
Cozy Café Bakery & Bistro, Ellicott City, MD
Don & Gigi’s, Attleboro, MA
Fruitrition Smoothie and Fruit Bar, Ridgeland, MS
Gigi’s House of Pizza, West Bridgewater, MA
Goodtimes Brewery, Chicago, IL
Hardheads, Crystal Beach, TX
Hummingbird Nutritious Eats, Haverhill, MA
Kayode Restaurant Mirage, Brooklyn, NY
Meagwich, Milwaukee, WI
Ocean Prime, Maspeth, NY
Patty Palace, Oakland Park, FL
Pho King and Noodle Bar, Houston, TX
Pizza x, Astoria, NY
Playground ATX, Austin, TX
Sabor–NM Kitchen, Albuquerque, NM
Soriano’s Pizzeria, San Diego, CA
The Cheese Shop, Carrboro, NC
Zait & Za’atar, Saint Paul, MN

Established Restaurant Grant Recipients
$15,000 Grant Recipients
Blue Hawaii Lifestyle, Honolulu, HI
Fix & Repeat, Bend, OR
Genova Pizza, Audubon, NJ
Lakeview Café, Royersford, PA
Sunbliss Café, Corona, CA
The Other Side, Crystal Lake, IL
Stephens Heads or Tails, Marksville, LA
Tipicos Ay Caramba Restaurant, Houston, TX
Treats by TYGR, Pearland, TX
Yung’s Kitchen, Holly, MI

$10,000 Grant Recipients
Autumn Court Chinese Restaurant, Phoenix, AZ
Bites Restaurant, Forest Grove, OR
Brentwood Social House, Austin, TX
Casa Real Mexican Grill, Loveland, CO
Clifton’s Jamrock, Fairburn, GA
Comeketo Brazilian Steakhouse, Leominster, MA
Fresh–Twist, Steubenville, OH
Hue Asian Kitchen, Milwaukee, WI
LAN Hand–Pulled Noodles, Seattle, WA
Lemon Café, Deerfield Beach, FL
Lionhead, Seattle, WA
Maya Indian Bar & Grill, Wakefield, MA
McCall’s Chicken and Ribs, Sharon, PA
Neutral Ground, Chattanooga, TN
Pierogi Mountain, Columbus, OH
Quick Sub Mini Mart, Trenton, NJ
Romanian Garden, Sunnyside, NY
Seoul Sausage, Los Angeles, CA
Sobik’s Café at Maxwell Garden, Orlando, FL
Taqueria Los Portales, Chicago, IL
The Bayou, West Hollywood, CA
The Original Las Brisas Mexican Food, San Pedro, CA
The Slice Pizzeria, San Antonia, TX
The Stones Common House, Stoneham, MA
Time Café and Market, Alexandria, VA
V’s Italiano Ristorante, Independence, MO
Venture Sandwich Company, Ventura, CA

$5,000 Grant Recipients
702 Churros and More, Las Vegas, NV
Alex’s Fresh Kitchen, Casselberry, FL
Allegra California Café, Culver City, CA
Autentica Taqueria, Miami, FL
BHop Food, Watertown, MA
Cancun Mexican Restaurant, San Juan Capistrano, CA
Capezzuto’s Pizza, Pittsburgh, PA
Carroll’s Pizza, Raleigh, NC
Chamoun’s Way, Cliffside Park, NJ
Crazy 4 Falafel, Edison, NJ
Crazy Rock’N Sushi, Irvine, CA
El Viejito Mexican Restaurant, Wichita, KS
Pho World, Renton, WA
Encontro North Park, San Diego, CA
Essen Kitchen, Cincinnati, OH
Famous Uncle Al’s Dog House, Virginia Beach, VA
Fiskies Café, Dorchester, MA
foraged. a hyper seasonal eatery, Baltimore, MD
Fortune House, Annapolis, MD
Four Café, Los Angeles, CA
Good to Go, Evanston, IL
Grafton Grill, North Grafton, MA
Green Diamond Grille & Pub, Barberton, OH
Hillside Farmacy, Austin, TX
House of Falafel, Cupertino, CA
Inna’s Kitchen, Newton, MA
Jerk. Jamaican Barbecue, Chicago, IL
Kamara African Restaurant, Rochester, NY
L’Oca d’Oro, Austin, TX
Lalo Chino Latino, Cincinnati, OH
Las Brasas Charcoal Chicken, Houston, TX
Le No 2 Seafood, Houston, TX
Masu Sushi, Portland, OR
Mosun’s Kitchen, Gaithersburg, MD
Mr Bartley’s Burger Company, Cambridge, MA
New India Restaurant, Columbus, OH
North Street Grille, Boston, MA
Peachtree Grill, Nashville, TN
Pepperoni’s Café, New Orleans, LA
Pikey’s Pizza, Whittier, CA
Romano Pizza, Weehawken, NJ
Rome’s Pizza, San Antonio, TX
Seoul Eats, Fullerton, CA
STIX, San Francisco, CA
Sushi Kappo, Boston, MA
T&P Munchies, New Orleans, LA
Taqueria Amigo Chino, Chicago, IL
Taste of India, Freemont, CA
Tavolo Ristorante, Dorchester, MA
The Corner Beet, Denver, CO
The Draft Room at Berwick, Savannah, GA
The Fusion Café and Bar, Winooski, VT
The Landing Restaurant, Marblehead, MA
The Taste of Chicago, Chicago, IL
The Tiki Tavern, Safety Harbor, FL
Toffee Traditions, Highwood, IL
Zhivago Restaurant, Skokie, IL

For more information about The Restaurant Strong Fund and its commitment to supporting the restaurant industry, please visit www.restaurantstrong.org

About The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund
The Greg Hill Foundation responds to the immediate needs of families that have been touched by tragedy. Since its inception in 2010, the foundation has provided over $29 million in grants to families and individuals in need. The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund was established in March of 2020. The fund was created to help aid the Hospitality Industry as restaurants closed and employees were left out of work due to Covid–19. The Restaurant Strong Fund provides various grant opportunities available to Restaurant Employees and Restaurant Owners.

About Grubhub
Grubhub is part of Just Eat Takeaway.com (LSE: JET, AMS: TKWY), a leading global online food delivery marketplace. Dedicated to connecting more than 32 million diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, Grubhub elevates food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub features more than 365,000 restaurant partners in over 4,000 U.S. cities.

New Grubhub Fund Added to the American Heart Association’s Chicago Social Impact Funds

Chicago, March 5, 2024 – Last year, 1 in 5 Chicago Metro area households and 1 in 4 households with children were considered food insecure[1]. As a social determinant of health, food insecurity can lead to numerous health problems, such as heart disease or high blood pressure[2].

The American Heart Association, which is marking one hundred years of service saving lives, today announced the addition of the Grubhub Fund to the Association’s Social Impact Funds in Chicago. This infusion of funding, supported by the Grubhub Community Fund, will in turn enable local organizations to tackle systemic social issues that affect food security and economic development with a focus on technology-driven solutions. The Grubhub Community Fund’s support will allow for several funding opportunities to social enterprises and nonprofits implementing innovative and scalable solutions to create meaningful change in local neighborhoods across Chicago and also New York through 2025.

“We are committed to strengthening the communities for our diners, restaurant partners and delivery partners,” said Brianna Morris, senior manager, community impact for Grubhub. “We are excited to support the American Heart Association’s Social Impact Funds and elevate this work through the Grubhub Community Fund. Supporting organizations working to create meaningful change in local communities is a key part of our work, especially in our hometown of Chicago.”

Local Chicago organizations are invited to submit a formal expression of interest to the Association’s Social Impact Funds through April 25, 2024. A window for New York area organizations will open later this Spring. Applicants can be at any business stage and can be non-profit or for-profit social enterprises. A virtual “town hall” information session will be held on March 13, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Central. Community members and American Heart Association staff will unite to discuss the fund and application process to ensure available funds are focused to address the greatest local needs. Register here to join the discussion.

“Our mission to end cardiovascular disease is directly tied to addressing its root causes including social determinants of health,” said Brittany Walsh, region senior vice president and executive director for the American Heart Association in Chicago. “The Social Impact Funds provide critical funding helping empower local organizations to create scalable solutions that help provide access to health care, healthy food and other services to help overall resiliency that will ultimately lead to a healthier and more resilient community.”

The Oscar and Cathy Munoz Pave it Forward Foundation established the Association’s Social Impact Funds in Chicago in 2022. The Munoz’s gift along with support from the Tullman Family Office recently funded four Chicagoland organizations:

  • Care Advisors is a health care technology firm helping individuals gain rapid access to social services and vital healthcare by enabling interoperability and coordinating care amongst hospitals, community-based organizations clinical social workers and patients.
  • Connect Care Hero (CCH) addresses social isolation in older adults with a tech-enabled engagement platform for senior living that optimizes staff time, delivers curated health-focused content and monitors risks associated with age. CCH operates in more than 30 locations across Chicagoland and Southwest Florida.
  • DistrictZero (DZ) is a digital emotional health platform that aims to promote stronger social-emotional competencies, helping individuals manage their emotions and make responsible decisions. DZ has successfully piloted its platform across K-12 schools, bilingual classrooms, private health clinics and corporate mental health support workflows in the United States.
  • ProUnitas works with Title I schools to develop systems that address basic needs spanning the social determinants of health and connects students to the resources they might need. The Houston-based organization recently expanded into Chicago.

Since launching in 2018, the American Heart Association’s Social Impact Funds have supported more than 130 local social enterprises across the country. Learn more about the Association’s Social Impact Funds here.

Grubhub Expands Impact Program With New Strategic Partnerships

New report shows community impact deepened in 2023, including $1.4 Million to NYC nonprofits and more than $1.6M to nonprofits in company’s hometown of Chicago

Chicago, Feb. 27, 2024 – Grubhub invested $15 million in communities across the United States through the Grubhub Community Fund and other impact programs last year, the company revealed today in its 2023 Community Impact Report. The report also highlights that 45 states across the country and more than 500 organizations and causes were supported through Grubhub and Grubhub Community Fund programs.

Corporate programs and nonprofit partnerships, supported by the Grubhub Community Fund, drive Grubhub’s community impact efforts. Diners also contribute through the company’s Donate the Change* tool. Three key impact focus areas guide Grubhub’s impact work: helping to close the hunger gap, creating more opportunity in the hospitality industry, and supporting independent restaurants.

In recent years, Grubhub has evolved its community impact approach to better guide its overarching strategy, scale impact, and identify new partnership opportunities. In 2023, Grubhub deepened its community impact in key markets by: 

  • Providing More Grants to More Organizations. Grubhub supported more than 80 organizations through the Grubhub Community Fund – a 40% increase from 2022.
  • Expanding Hometown Impact. Grubhub invested in new partnerships across its impact focus areas, supporting nearly 100 Chicagoland community-based organizations through Grubhub and Grubhub Community Fund programs.
  • Scaling Food Recovery Efforts. Grubhub hit a new milestone in its food recovery effort, partnering to recover and redirect more than 40 million pounds of food to local food banks, pantries, and community organizations across the country.

“The communities where we operate are the very heart of our business, and we have a responsibility to help strengthen them in ways Grubhub is uniquely positioned to do,” said Dave Tovar, Senior Vice President of Communications & Government Relations at Grubhub. “I am extremely proud of how we supported restaurants, especially ones that are small businesses, in the past year, and am looking forward to expanding our impact in 2024. We have a lot of work ahead of us including the launch of new funding opportunities for nonprofits, expanding our efforts to create more opportunities in the hospitality industry, and engaging our delivery partners in our impact work.”

Along with supporting local communities on the national scale, Grubhub placed an emphasis on supporting neighbors in two key markets: New York City and Chicago. In New York City, the Grubhub Community Fund gave $1,420,000 to local nonprofits and distributed more than 132,000 meals through Grubhub and Grubhub Community Fund programs.

Within its hometown of Chicago, the Grubhub Community Fund gave more than $1,600,000 to local nonprofits and distributed almost 3,900,000 pounds of food distributed via food bank and pantry partners and recovered more than 5,200,000 pounds of food in partnership with FoodRecovery.org and Rescuing Leftover Cuisine.

To further support these markets, Grubhub’s announced a new relationship with the American Heart Association’s Social Impact Funds, which will support nonprofits and social enterprises driving innovative solutions to help address health and economic disparities. The Grubhub Community Fund intends to provide up to $2 million to the Association’s Social Impact Funds to support funding opportunities through 2025 to organizations working to create meaningful change in Chicago and New York City neighborhoods.

“As the American Heart Association celebrates 100 years of our life-saving mission, we know that to make a meaningful difference in our communities, we need to collaborate with the individuals and organizations who take action to bring about change,” said Marsha Jones, 2023-25 volunteer chairperson of the board for the American Heart Association, member of the Association’s Social Impact Funds Governance Committee and former executive vice president and chief diversity officer for The PNC Financial Services Group Inc. “The Grubhub Community Fund complements the efforts of the Association’s Social Impact Funds to change the face of health care and access so communities can be healthier.”

Grubhub is on a continuous journey to identify new opportunities that will strengthen and deepen its community impact. Read the 2023 Community Impact Report, and learn more about how Grubhub is engaging in strategic partnerships and funding impactful programs to make its operating communities a better place: https://about.grubhub.com/community/

*The Grubhub Community Fund is a donor advised fund at a national sponsoring organization. The Grubhub Community Fund is made possible through donations from our customers through our Donate the Change feature in the Grubhub app and website. Grubhub matches contributions on eligible orders from our Grubhub+ members.

Grubhub and The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund Launch National Grant for Small Business Restaurants

BOSTON, MA – Grubhub and The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund are pleased to announce more than $1,000,000 in grant opportunities, made possible by the Grubhub Community Fund, to support growth in small business restaurants nationally. The launch marks the fourth year of partnership between Grubhub and The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund. 

On February 20, 2024, The Restaurant Strong Fund will begin accepting applications for the program’s next grant cycle. The Restaurant Strong Fund will focus on providing grants that impact revenue growth and areas including, but not limited to: updating technology/equipment necessary to enhance day-to-day operations, marketing & public relations services, staff training programs, incentivized wages, or maintenance/updating of current infrastructure. 

Restaurants can apply for this grant by providing specific plans outlining how the funding will be utilized and expectations of growth. Grants ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 will be awarded based on need and growth opportunity showcased in the application. Grants will be limited to single-location restaurants that meet the following criteria:

  • Must be open and operating in the United States (contiguous) 
  • Completed application form 
  • Provide a detailed explanation for the need of a grant and how it would be utilized if awarded 
  • Provide evidence of need 

Applications will be open from Tuesday, February 20, 2024 through Friday, March 15, 2024. A portion of grant funds will be dedicated to new restaurants, those established in 2021 onwards, to aid in their introduction to the restaurant industry. Grants will be awarded to selected restaurants in April.

About Grubhub 

Grubhub is part of Just Eat Takeaway.com (LSE: JET, AMS: TKWY), a leading global online food delivery marketplace. Dedicated to connecting more than 32 million diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, Grubhub elevates food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub features more than 355,000 restaurant partners in over 4,000 U.S. cities.

About The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund 

The Greg Hill Foundation responds to the immediate needs of families that have been touched by tragedy. Since its inception in 2010, the foundation has provided over $28 million in grants to families and individuals in need. The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund was established in March of 2020. The fund was created to help aid the Hospitality Industry as restaurants closed and employees were left out of work due to Covid-19. The Restaurant Strong Fund provides various grant opportunities available to Restaurant Employees and Restaurant Owners. 

Grubhub Selects 64 Food-Focused Chicago Nonprofits in Inaugural Full Plate Microgrant Program

The Grubhub Community Fund is bringing holiday cheer to Chicago nonprofits who are feeding the community by announcing nearly $650,000 in grants.

This holiday season, Grubhub has selected 64 nonprofit organizations in our hometown that provide food and meal services to receive microgrants of up to $10,000 through our new Full Plate Program. In total, Grubhub has recommended nearly $650,000 in grants through the Grubhub Community Fund to nonprofit organizations across Cooke, DuPage, and Lake counties that are providing access to nutritious groceries and meals to those experiencing food insecurity in Grubhub’s hometown.

“The Full Plate Program is Grubhub’s first open grant program and made possible by the Grubhub Community Fund. This grant funding comes at a critical time for the 64 Chicagoland nonprofits in various communities supporting our hometown neighbors by ensuring they have access to food and essential needs,” said Brianna Morris, Grubhub’s Senior Manager of Community Impact. “We are grateful to all of our grant recipients who are working day-in and day-out to close the hunger gap across the city of Chicago, and we look forward to providing future opportunities to organizations creating meaningful change in our local communities.” 

The grant recipients will use the funding for everything from purchasing groceries and meals for community members to investing in equipment and resources needed to distribute food and keep programming up and running. This will help feed our hometown neighbors in more than 75 neighborhoods across the Chicago area, including Austin, Back of Yards, Englewood, Garfield Park, North Lawndale, Pilsen, Uptown, Sauk Village, Waukegan, and West Chicago. 

Hear from a few of our 2023 Full Plate Program grantees: 

“Good Food Catalyst is thrilled to receive funding from the Full Plate Program to help distribute free meals on the South and West Sides of Chicago,” said Jeannine Wise, Director of Good Food is Good Medicine. “Our meals utilize local produce grown by BIPOC urban farmers and incorporate expert nutrition and flavor guidance from chefs, doctors, and registered dietitians.With the Full Plate grant, we will be able to purchase nutritious meal ingredients that will help us reach our goal of producing 20,000 meals for community members in 2024, in addition to covering some of the program’s staffing costs.” 

“The microgrant Just Roots received from the Grubhub Community Fund’s Full Plate Program will help us feed countless community members on Chicago’s South Side, specifically in Bronzeville, Chinatown, Englewood, South Shore, South Loop, Kenwood, and Bridgeport,” said Sean Ruane, Director of Operations & Development with Just Roots. “Through our program, we operate sustainable urban farms that produce fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs that are provided directly to local community members. In this coming year, we aim to provide 12,500 pounds of fresh, organic, culturally affirming food from our farms to South Side food pantries, mutual aid organizations, and senior and public housing facilities.”

“The Glen Ellyn Food Pantry is extremely grateful to receive funding from the Grubhub Community Fund’s Full Plate Program as it will help support our “Extraordinary Dairy Program,” said Laura Glaza, Executive Director of The Glen Ellyn Food Pantry. “Our community has growing needs for food and can especially benefit from dairy products, like milk and eggs, which are an extraordinary source of nutrients that contribute to a healthy diet – but have become increasingly expensive. Thanks to Grubhub’s program, we will be able to purchase a six-month supply of dairy products for our neighbors.”

The Full Plate Program is made possible through the Grubhub Community Fund*, and is administered in partnership with Greater Chicago Food Depository and Nourishing Hope. Grubhub, Greater Chicago Food Depository and Nourishing Hope partnered together to review and evaluate the applications based on need, impact, and demonstration of fiscal responsibility.

“The Greater Chicago Food Depository is proud to support the Grubhub Community Fund’s Full Plate Program,” said Deborah Clair, the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s Director of Corporate Relations. ”As a nonprofit committed to connecting our neighbors with healthy food and advancing solutions that address the root causes of hunger, we understand how meaningful the programs offered by the grant recipients are for local community members. In the coming year, we are excited to see the number of meals provided and the number of our neighbors whose lives will be impacted through the Full Plate Program.”

“Thanks to the Grubhub Community Fund, the Full Plate Program will help the grantees feed countless Chicagoans experiencing hunger,” said Kellie O’Connell, CEO of Nourishing Hope. “We’re proud to have partnered with Grubhub on this exciting new initiative.” 

As part of our effort to help close the hunger gap and to give back to our hometown, Grubhub is committed to supporting local, community-centered programs that provide access to nutritious foods and beverages to individuals and families in need. Thank you to Greater Chicago Food Depository, Nourishing Hope, and all of our selected Full Plate grantees for helping feed our neighbors!

2023 Selected Full Plate Grantees:

  • Above & Beyond Food Pantry
  • Allen Metropolitan CME Church
  • American Association of Single Parents, Inc.
  • Barbara W. Smith Family Life Center
  • Bryn Mawr Community Foundation
  • Care for Friends
  • Catholic Bishop of Chicago dba St. Thomas of Canterbury
  • Chatham-Avalon Ministries Food Pantry
  • Chicago Dream Center
  • Chosen Tabernacle Full Gospel Baptist Church
  • Christian Life Center AOG Church
  • Common Pantry
  • Community Feast at United Church of Rogers Park
  • Coppin Community Center
  • Cultivate Collective
  • Edward G. Irvin Foundation
  • Elmhurst Yorkfield Food Pantry
  • Evangelism Outreach Ministries
  • Evanston Vineyard Church
  • Faith Feeds Food Pantry
  • Figueroa Wu Family Foundation
  • First Baptist Church of Melrose Park Food Pantry
  • First Presbyterian Church of Chicago
  • Food Access Project 
  • Food Pantry of Messiah-St Bartholomew Episcopal Church
  • For Your Consciousness Ministry
  • GAP Community Center
  • Glen Ellyn Food Pantry
  • Good Food Catalyst
  • Grace Housing Complex
  • Grace United Church of Christ
  • Grant A Wish Inc
  • Harmony Community Cares NFP
  • Harris Temple A.O.H. Church Food Pantry
  • Irving Park Community Food Pantry
  • Just Roots
  • Martin Temple Community Foundation
  • Mihut Romanian Charitable Mission
  • Neighborhood Food Pantries
  • New Christian Joy Full Church Food Pantry
  • New Eclipse Community Alliance
  • New Hope House Community Food Pantry
  • Operation Blessing of SW Chicagoland
  • Our Daily Bread Food Pantry
  • Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish
  • Our Shining Stars Foundation
  • Parkway Garden Christian Church Food Pantry
  • Seeds Center of Maple Park United Methodist Church
  • Sheldon Heights Food Pantry
  • Shepherd’s Hope LTD
  • Sisters Working It Out
  • Society of Arab American Neighborhood Development
  • St. Moses the Black Food Pantry
  • St. Paul and the Redeemer Episcopal Church
  • The Addison Township Foundation Food Pantry
  • The Outreach House
  • The Salvation Army Corps and Community Des Plaines
  • The Salvation Army Norridge Citadel
  • The Southwest Collective
  • Trinity Charities
  • Trinity Resurrection United Church
  • Valley Kingdom Community Development Corporation
  • Wayne Township Pantry
  • Windsor Park Evangelical Lutheran Church

*The Grubhub Community Fund is a donor advised fund at a national sponsoring organization. The Grubhub Community Fund is made possible through donations from our customers through our Donate the Change feature. Grubhub matches contributions on eligible orders from our Grubhub+ members.

Startup Catering Service Nude Dude Food Wins a Free Year in a Grubhub Private Kitchen at The Hatchery Chicago®

Grubhub surprised all three private kitchen pitch competition runner-ups with FREE private kitchens at The Hatchery for 6 months each.

Grubhub CEO Howard Migdal and The Hatchery/ICNC Chief Strategy & Incubation Officer Natalie Shmulik with Grubhub x The Hatchery’s private kitchen winners © 2023 Galdones Photography

After an evening that saw four Chicago-based food and beverage entrepreneurs present business plans on how they will grow their restaurant concept and share samples of their food at Grubhub x The Hatchery Chicago’s private kitchen pitch competition, Seth Bradley and Ryan Van Voorhis of Nude Dude Food were named the grand prize winners. The competition took place at The Hatchery, a nonprofit incubator dedicated to fostering successful food and beverage businesses on the West Side of Chicago, during it’s annual fundraiser on Friday, Dec. 1.  

Alongside Bradley and Van Voorhis, Anwar Jebran of Honeydoe Authentic Mediterranean, Earl Moore of Uncle Earl’s BBQ, and Valerie Vedral of The Vulgar Vegan also pitched their business concepts at the competition. Three of our four restaurants currently work out of The Hatchery’s shared kitchen. All  finalists brought unique dishes to the table – the catch was samples had to be presented in delivery-friendly packaging to ensure it would be just as tasty at a Grubhub diner’s house as it would at the restaurant. 

To evaluate our finalists, our expert judging panel was made up of Grubhub’s CEO Howard Migdal, two local chefs and business owners Taylor Mason of Taylor’s Tacos and Krissy Ashley of Cleo’s Southern Cuisine, and Chicago-based food influencer Jeremy Joyce of Black People Eats. Our judges took many factors into consideration when selecting our grand prize winner – everything from how they will leverage delivery as a solution and an opportunity to grow their business to the taste and display of their food. 

The judging panel at Grubhub x The Hatchery’s private kitchen pitch competition © 2023 Galdones Photography

The highlight of the first place prize is one year free access to the Grubhub private kitchen at The Hatchery Chicago. While all finalists were meant to go home with a prize of some kind, Migdal shared a surprise when announcing the winners. Because the remaining three finalists’ presentations and food were equally impressive, they all received what was initially meant to be the second place prize – rent-free access to a private Grubhub Kitchen at The Hatchery for six months. 

“This event celebrated the start of Grubhub’s partnership with The Hatchery Chicago, and our shared mission to help local restaurants build and grow successful businesses means we have a lot of exciting work ahead of us too,” said Dave Tovar, Senior Vice President of Communications & Government Relations at Grubhub. “We know how challenging it can be to get started in the restaurant and hospitality business, and are excited to have the opportunity to support our hometown entrepreneurs by providing all four finalists free private kitchen space at The Hatchery.”

All four of the pitch competition finalists will move into their private kitchens at The Hatchery in early 2024. In addition to the private kitchen space, the finalists will receive wraparound support from The Hatchery and Grubhub, including access to schedule a professional food photoshoot, business review check-ins with the Grubhub team, and more. 

While the pitch competition was a big success, Grubhub’s partnership with The Hatchery is just getting started. In addition to providing all finalists rent-free kitchen space, Grubhub is also developing new educational materials to guide entrepreneurs interested in using third-party delivery to grow their businesses, providing philanthropic support through the Grubhub Community Fund to The Hatchery’s Sprouts Incubation program, and working with The Hatchery to improve the onsite delivery pathways so more entrepreneurs operating out of the facility can leverage Grubhub to expand their business. 

Shmulik and Migdal participating in a fireside chat before Grubhub x The Hatchery’s private kitchen pitch competition © 2023 Galdones Photography

“We are beyond excited to work closely with Grubhub to create more streamlined pathways to success for startup food and beverage entrepreneurs in Chicago,” said Natalie Shmulik, Chief Strategy & Incubation Officer, ICNC/The Hatchery Chicago. “The four private kitchens Grubhub awarded our finalists will be instrumental in helping local brands build viable and sustainable businesses. Congratulations to all of the entrepreneurs!”

As we move into 2024, Grubhub looks forward to seeing this exciting partnership with The Hatchery grow while also finding new ways to support independent restaurant owners and help create new opportunities within the hospitality industry in our hometown. 

The National ACE and Grubhub Award Grants to 82 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander-Owned Small Businesses

LAS VEGAS, NV and WASHINGTON, DC, October 2023 – Grubhub and the National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE) announced that 79 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI)-owned restaurants were awarded grants of $5,000 – $15,000, made possible with a grant from the Grubhub Community Fund. In addition, three finalists were awarded $50,000 grants each live on-stage at the #AAPISTRONG Annual Conference in Las Vegas on October 13, 2023.

With the industry facing ongoing economic challenges, this funding will allow AANHPI restaurateurs to take their business to the next level through development ideas such as infrastructure improvements, e-commerce and technology, employee benefits, and operations streamlining. Ultimately, this will help AANHPI entrepreneurs to scale their businesses, secure their futures, and also give back to the life of their neighborhoods by fostering safe and enjoyable places to gather.

Shauna & Cornelius Tuilaepa, the owners of No Ke Aloha in Aurora Colorado, shared, “These funds will grant us the amazing opportunity to continue to ensure that our community is represented through the presence of food and culture in Colorado. In expanding our business, we can harness a broader reach to all Pacific Islanders and offer a larger variety of favorites while also growing our workforce and providing jobs to more folks in our community. Mahalo nui loa National ACE, Grubhub, and AAPI Strong for your integral support of the AAPI community!!!”

David Maugaotega, owner of Iced in Chicago, Illinois, shared, “I am so grateful to National ACE for the opportunity and recognizing small business entrepreneurship in the AAPI community. With this grant, I have been given the tools to settle some of the financial debt from my equipment purchases and startup costs of my self-made bakery. This relief will allow me to focus on the bigger picture instead of the day-to-day by investing more in other areas, such as marketing, new equipment, and staffing.”

Rhea Patel Michel, owner of Saucy Chick Rotisserie in Temple City, California, shared, “We are so humbled and grateful for this gift. We are in the midst of opening our very own brick and mortar and were finding ourselves uncomfortably strapped for all the critical opening costs needed: signage, core equipment etc. Additionally, due to delays outside of our control, we are extending our time in which we can start generating revenue. Overhead costs like rent are still due. This is such a needed gift and we can’t thank the organization enough.”

Yanna Guan, owner of Na Na’s Kitchen in Brisbane, California, shared, “Receiving these funds from National ACE would be a game-changer for Na Na’s Kitchen. They will empower us to elevate our culinary offerings, strengthen our community engagement, and lay the foundation for strategic expansion. This support not only secures our business’s future but also enhances our ability to enrich the lives of our patrons and the community at large.”

“Our AAPI-owned restaurants proved their resilience and now are looking to the future,” said Chiling Tong, President and CEO of National ACE. “Grubhub’s ongoing commitment to AAPI-owned restaurants is demonstrated by the continuation of this amazing grant opportunity. The grant support from the Grubhub Community Fund will provide AAPI restaurant owners the opportunity to expand their businesses and reach new peaks.”

“National ACE has been an incredible partner to Grubhub on the AAPIStrong restaurant grant program and working with us on shared business and policy priorities,” said Dave Tovar, Senior Vice President of Communications & Government Relations at Grubhub. “Over the years, this program has supported more than 350 AAPI-owned restaurants across the country to both sustain and expand their businesses. Restaurants play a vital role in their communities, and Grubhub is committed to helping them have a positive impact on the people and communities they serve.”

Full List of Winners:

2d restaurant – Chicago, IL

Adobo – Decatur, GA

Aloha Island Market – Mesa, AZ

Aroy Thai – Chicago, IL

banhkhotlady – Westminster, CA

Bela Vegetarian Restaurant – Northampton, MA

BIG SAI’S HAWAIIAN BARBEQUE LLC – Layton, UT

Bobaloompia – Tyler, TX

Canton Village – Gardiner, ME

Chiu Wu – Midwest City, OK

Cloud and Spirits – Cambridge, MA

Cotra – Brooklyn, NY

Dae Jang Geum – Ellicott City, MD

Dumpling Haus – Houston, TX

East Wok – Orlando, FL

Epic Poke – Austin, TX

Falansai – Brooklyn, NY

Fork & Spoon – Portland, OR

Garden’s Gourmet – Tacoma, WA

Golden Dragon (龙记) – Columbia, SC

Habibi Grill – Salt Lake City, UT

Hao Chi – Baltimore, MD

Hop Bo Chinese – Melbourne, FL

Hot Spots – Denton, TX

Hue Vietnamese Restaurant \ Hue Asian Kitchen – Milwaukee, WI

Iced – Chicago, IL

Island Fiyah Grill – Honolulu, HI

Joyu Tea & Coffee – Virginia Beach, VA

Kabob Stop – Salt Lake City, UT

Kabobi By the Helmand – Herndon, VA

Kai Pops Island Style Popsicles – Spanish Fork , UT

Kandahar Grill – Hicksville, NY

Kin Khao Thai and Sushi – Valparaiso, IN

Korai Kitchen – Jersey City, NJ

KOY – Boston, MA

Krakatoa Indonesian Cuisine – Hollywood, FL

Krapow – Culver City, CA

LAN Hand-pulled Noodles – Seattle, WA

Le Gourmet – Iowa City, IA

Le’s Kitchen – Waco, TX

London Grill & Tavern – Mcallen, TX

Magna Kusina – Portland, OR

Mai’s Deli – Appleton, WI

Milk + Honey – Saline, MI

Muang Thai – Eau Claire, WI

Na Na’s Kitchen – Brisbane, CA

Namaste Cafe – Minneapolis, MN

No Ke Aloha – Aurora, CO

Nomad – Hillsborough, NC

Okonomi Asian Grill – Fairfax, VA

Ono Sushi – Las Vegas, NV

Parachute – Chicago, IL

Parklife – Brooklyn, NY

PB Poke House – San Diego, CA

Pho Saigon 75 – Fairfax, VA

Phuket Thai Restaurant – Redondo Beach, CA

Pink Flamingo To Go – Detroit, MI

Platform Z – Bala Cynwyd, PA

Quick Sub Mini Mart – Trenton, NJ

Ranken Noodle House – Gaithersburg, MD

Roebling Pizza – Brooklyn, NY

Saucy Chick Rotisserie – Los Angeles, CA

Shinsen – New York, NY

Simply Khmer – Lowell, MA

Socola Chocolatier – San Francisco, CA

Steep LA – Los Angeles, CA

Suasday Sandwich Co – Boston, MA

Subo Filipino Kitchen – Chicago, IL

Sunhee’s Farm and Kitchen – Troy, NY

Tang and Java – Woodland Hills, CA

Taste of Pearl LLC – Hillsboro, OR

The Shores Kitchen – Santa Monica, CA

TOKEMOANA’S – San Mateo, CA

Urban Roast – Washington, D.C.

Urbanh Cafe – Chandler, AZ

VietFive Coffee – Chicago, IL

Vui Ve – Los Angeles, CA

What the Fried Rice – Northwood, OH

Wok Star Catering – Encino, CA

Wooly Pig – San Francisco, CA

Yoma Burmese Cuisine  – Allston, MA

YuThaiPa Thai Takeaway – Yucaipa, CA

The Grubhub Community Fund and Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund Provide $750,000 in Grants to Restaurants Nationwide

The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund and Grubhub are pleased to announce $750,000 in grants have been distributed to 117 restaurants across the nation. A portion of grant funds were dedicated to supporting new businesses around the nation as well as restaurants in Chicago and New York City. The program will award $135,000 to Chicago-area restaurants and $125,000 to New York City restaurants. An additional $290,000 will be distributed in other cities across the country to new businesses open for three years or less.

Small business restaurants play an essential role in the social tapestry of local communities by offering unique culinary experiences, fostering connections, and contributing to the economic vitality of our cities and towns. The Restaurant Strong Fund and Grubhub recognize the challenges faced by these establishments and remain dedicated to supporting their journey towards renewal and success. To date, the program has provided almost $17M in grants to restaurants across the nation.

The 117 restaurants selected to receive grants from the Restaurant Strong Fund will be provided with much-needed resources for their small business. These funds will assist in updating technology, updating equipment, marketing and public relations services, staff training programs, staff incentivized wages, maintenance/updating of current infrastructure, and construction or addition of outdoor seating. These restaurants all are small businesses, having only a single location, and are currently operating in the United States.

The 117 small business restaurants receiving grants from the Restaurant Strong Fund are:

$10,000 Grant Recipients

  • Amarit Thai and Sushi Chicago, IL 
  • Aroy Thai Restaurant Chicago, IL 
  • Arslans Gyros San Diego, CA 
  • Bourbon’s Kitchen and Cocktails Framingham, MA
  • Blue Adobe Grille Mesa, AZ
  • China Chef Bistro Phoenix, AZ
  • Classics flowers and Confections Cypress, CA
  • Eighty Eight Eggs Chicago, IL
  • Enso Sushi & Bar Chicago, IL
  • Fat Doughnut Brooklyn, NY
  • Figure Eight New York, NY
  • FishScale Washington DC
  • Granny’s Country Café Visalia, CA
  • Gruit by Abe’s Brooklyn, NY
  • Harvest Café Staten Island, NY
  • It’s All Good: Southern Kitchen Burlington, NC
  • Kickin’ Hot Chicken Chino, CA
  • Kokonut Grill Richmond, VA
  • Krackin Cajun Seafood House Joplin, MO
  • Little Crepe Café Cambridge, MA
  • Lobster Joint Brooklyn, NY
  • Milktopia San Francisco, CA
  • Okonomi Asian Grill Fairfax, VA
  • Parlor Kitchen Orlando, FL
  • Pharaohs Mediterranean Sandwiches   San Francisco, CA
  • Red Pig Asian Kitchen Chicago, IL
  • Sage Alley Brewery & Grille Coopersburg, PA
  • Sweet Pit BBQ & Seafood Hampton, GA
  • Sweetly, Shealy Camilla, GA
  • Tango Mango Inc Newton, MA
  • Thai Café Downers Grove, IL
  • The Grove Beverage Café Petoskey, MI
  • Warren HQ Philadelphia, PA

$5,000 Grant Recipients

  • 1308 Chicago Chicago, ILK
  • Amir’s Falafel Studio City, CA
  • Antonio’s Deli 2 LLC Philadelphia, PA
  • Baba’s Original New York System Providence, RI
  • Bailey Seafood Buffalo, NY
  • Bella LuLus Corp Jamaica, NY
  • Bellancino’s Pizza & Grinders Findlay, OH
  • Blue Fez Inc Salem, MA
  • Bo’s Schnitzelbunker Village of Pewaukee, WI
  • Brauhaus Schmitz Philadelphia, PA
  • BuenoMalo Andover, MA
  • C’s Waffles Titusville, FL
  • Café Gigu East Boston, MA
  • Caribbean Soul Kitchen Los Angeles, CA
  • Channel Islands Juice Company Ventura, CA
  • Charlies Creole Kitchen Dallas, TX
  • CheSa’s Bistro & Bar Chicago, IL
  • Dao Thai Restaurant Chicago, IL
  • Domy Pizza Bronx, NY
  • Echigo Home Cook San Francisco, CA
  • El Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant New York, NY
  • Feng Cha Las Vegas, NV
  • Fryers Roadside Silver Spring, MD
  • Georgia Soulfood Chicago, IL
  • Greenwich Pita and Grill Mason, OH
  • Hue Chicago Chicago, IL
  • Ivy Kitchen Detroit, MI
  • Johnny’s Taphouse and Grill Tarpon Springs, FL
  • Juicy Tails Fayetteville, AR
  • KOY Boston, MA
  • Kusanya Café Chicago, IL
  • La Guadalupe Restaurant Corp New York, NY
  • Lan Hand-Pulled Noodles Seattle, WA
  • Le Sud Chicago, IL
  • Lindsey’s Hospitality House and BBQ North Little Rock, AR
  • Loyola Pizza Los Angeles, CA
  • Luna Pizza Longwood, FL
  • Mad Bulldogs Hot Chicken Los Angeles, CA
  • Marbabellos Pizza Philadelphia, PA
  • Marcela Cocina Mexicana Brooklyn, NY
  • Margon Restaurant New York, NY
  • Master Shin Korean Plate San Jose, CA
  • Mexicali Sushi Bar East Boston, MA
  • Mr Chi Boba & Tea Las Vegas, NV
  • New Berlin Brewing Company North Canton, OH
  • Nkasso Food Allentown, PA
  • Izakaya Noname Long Island City, NY
  • Nu Crepes Elmhurst, IL
  • Oscar’s Kitchen Corp Bronx, NY
  • Paleo Treats Inc San Diego, CA
  • Pate Palo Bar and Grill New York, NY
  • Pega Grill Miami, FL
  • Pho Hana Diamond Bar, CA
  • Pippilocca/Il Passatore Asotria, NY
  • Pizzeria Rustico Boston, MA
  • Poke Bowl Tropical Atlantic City, NJ
  • Pub 6T5 New Bedford, MA
  • Queeni Kabobs Rancho Cucamonga, CA
  • Real Thai Cuisine Cranberry Twp, PA
  • Ristorante Ideale San Francisco, CA
  • Royal Thai Chicago, IL
  • Seven Bar and Restaurant Chicago, IL
  • Shawarma Grill Portland, OR
  • Shawarma Shack Chesapeake, VA
  • Southern Belle Atlanta, GA
  • Spring Asian Cuisine Spring TX
  • Star of Siam Chicago, IL
  • Straycat Kitchen Pasadena, CA
  • Sugar Wood New York, NY
  • Sushi Coast Webster, TX
  • SUteiShi Japanese Restaurant New York, NY
  • Tandy’s Pub & Grille Concord, NH
  • Tealicious Lincoln Park Chicago, IL
  • The Black Whale Bronx, NY
  • The Cupcake Parlor Clarksboro, NJ
  • The Jersey Spot Pizza and Pasta Kissimmee, FL
  • The Soul Spot Restaurant Brooklyn, NY
  • Tiparos Thai Cuisine & Sushi Bar Chicago, IL
  • Urban Vegan Chicago, IL
  • UThai Rego Park, NY
  • Vinateria New York, NY
  • What’s the Dill Detroit, MI
  • Winnie’s Manayunk Philadelphia, PA
  • Zhivago Restaurant  Skokie, IL

For more information about The Restaurant Strong Fund and its commitment to supporting the restaurant industry, please visit www.restaurantstrong.org

About The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund

The Greg Hill Foundation responds to the immediate needs of families that have been touched by tragedy. Since its inception in 2010, the foundation has provided over $28 million in grants to families and individuals in need. The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund was established in March of 2020. The fund was created to help aid the Hospitality Industry as restaurants closed and employees were left out of work due to Covid-19. The Restaurant Strong Fund provides various grant opportunities available to Restaurant Employees and Restaurant Owners.

About Grubhub

Grubhub is part of Just Eat Takeaway.com (LSE: JET, AMS: TKWY), a leading global online food delivery marketplace. Dedicated to connecting more than 32 million diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, Grubhub elevates food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub features more than 365,000 restaurant partners in over 4,000 U.S. cities.

The Grubhub Community Fund Full Plate Program to Provide up to $1 Million in Microgrants to Chicago Nonprofits – Now Accepting Applications

One in five Chicago area households experience food insecurity – the lack of consistent access to adequate, nutritious food. To help ensure our neighbors have regular access to food and meal services, Grubhub is introducing our Full Plate Program, made possible by the Grubhub Community Fund*. This new microgrant program will support nonprofit organizations who provide food and meal services as a core part of their mission in our hometown with up to $10,000 each in grant support. All told, Grubhub’s goal is to recommend a total of up to $1 million in grants through the Grubhub Community Fund. The program will be administered in partnership with Greater Chicago Food Depository and Nourishing Hope.

Interested Chicago-based nonprofit organizations can apply now through 5 p.m. CT on Monday, Nov. 13, 2023. Applications will be evaluated based on need, impact, and demonstration of fiscal responsibility. Organizations approved for funding will be announced in December 2023.

Grubhub is committed to supporting local, community-centered programs that provide access to nutritious foods and beverages to individuals and families in need, and we are grateful to Greater Chicago Food Depository and Nourishing Hope for helping make this possible. For additional application details, please visit https://grubhub.smapply.io/. 

*The Grubhub Community Fund is a donor advised fund at a national sponsoring organization. The Grubhub Community Fund is made possible through donations from our customers through our Donate the Change feature. Grubhub matches contributions on eligible orders from our Grubhub+ members.

Grubhub x The Hatchery Chicago® Private Kitchen Pitch Competition – Now Accepting Applications

Since we first opened our doors in Chicago 19 years ago, Grubhub has been committed to positively impacting communities in the city that gave us our start. As a part of our new $300,000 partnership with The Hatchery Chicago®, a leading non-profit incubator dedicated to fostering successful food and beverage businesses on the West Side of Chicago, Grubhub is sponsoring a pitch competition to help local entrepreneurs build and grow successful businesses. 

Panoramic view of The Hatchery facility | Photographer: James Steinkamp Photography

Interested Chicago-based food and beverage entrepreneurs can apply now through 5:00 pm CT on Monday, Oct. 23. Once the application period closes, five finalists will be selected to pitch their business plans on how they will grow their restaurant concept – and of course, share samples of their delicious food – to a panel of judges during The Hatchery’s annual fundraiser on Friday, Dec. 1. Our first place winner will be awarded rent-free access to the private Grubhub Kitchen at The Hatchery for an entire year, plus additional wrap-around support from The Hatchery and Grubhub.

With this partnership and the pitch competition, we are thrilled to continue supporting independent restaurants and creating opportunities in the hospitality industry in our hometown. For additional competition details, please visit The Hatchery’s website.