Chef John Philcox of Café Zelda in Newport and Lombardi’s 1025 Club of Johnston have been honored by the R.I. Hospitality and Tourism Association with awards that put them in the running for the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Neighbor Awards.
The Restaurant Neighbor Awards highlight community service achievements among the nation’s restaurants. It honors charitable contributions of restaurants in four categories – small business, mid-sized business, large business/national chain and cornerstone humanitarian of the year.
The state’s hospitality association nominated Philcox as Rhode Island’s cornerstone humanitarian of the year for his efforts to educate young people about the benefits of good nutrition.
The association nominated Lombardi’s 1025 Club as the state’s small business honoree for its 54 years of community outreach efforts, including fundraising, management and marketing assistance for nonprofits and civic organizations. The banquet hall also donates a portion of its revenue to specific organizations.
One grand prize winner in each of the four categories will be announced at the National Restaurant Association’s public affairs conference Sept. 25 – 26 in Washington, D.C. The winners will receive a $5,000 award to continue their community programs.
