Dine Out for Japan Relief Update – Good Eating Does Good

At the end of March, Peter Bro and Gabe Rosen called to ask me to help get the word out on their brilliant idea.

“PDX Restaurants for Japan Relief?”

I couldn’t say “YES” fast enough.

News of the tragic earthquake and tsunami that hit Northeastern Japan a few days before was resting heavily on my heart and mind. The event came together very quickly.

With incredible speed and enthusiasm, a team was working around the clock to sign up restaurants, design the logo and print materials, write the copy, print the flyers, (a big thanks for the graphic design expertise contributions from Chris Dangtran as well as John and Karen Wippich of Dotzero Design), coordinate the event with Mercy Corps, and spread the word. All we needed was a “yes” and within days, fifty-plus Portland restaurants were on board willing to donate a percentage of one day’s proceeds to help with the relief efforts in Japan.

Next, we needed to tell people about it!

Our media support was phenomenal! Willamette Week ran a free advertisement listing all participating restaurants, plus a news item. More than four Portland radio stations invited Gabe and Peter on-air to talk about the campaign, while other radio show hosts promoted it on their programs; The Oregonian wrote a full page LIVING section cover story with photos; pdx. eater.com, goodstuffnw.com, eatbeat.com, portlandfoodanddrink.com, alongside numerous other blogs and newspapers provided amazing support.

Everyone Tweeted. Facebook was on fire, spreading the word the day of the event, plus KGW-TV and KPTV covered it for their news broadcasts on March 30th. It was a whirlwind of good vibrations, packed restaurants, bistros, bars and coffee houses that resulted in generating more than $35,000 towards the relief efforts in Japan.

Portland restaurant owners are generous souls as are their customers – we have all of you to thank for making it all come together.

Bravo.

 

Bette

B Sinclair Public Relations

Portland, Oregon

direct: 503.226.0129

email: bette@bsinclairpr.com

 

Tags: Portland