In 2004, a group of industry friends were at an event. They were discussing the various causes they support each year, and the people who come to their venues, asking for help. Then a question came up that changed everything: who is helping the service industry? What organizations are supporting service industry workers through their own health crises and injuries?
And that was the start of CORE: Children of Restaurant Employees, a national non-profit dedicated to serving food and beverage service employees with children. “When a crisis occurs, the children are sometimes impacted the most,” explains Sheila Bennett, executive director of CORE. “At the end of the day, when CORE helps a family, we are helping their children.”
What started as a volunteer-led organization has bloomed into a vital industry support system. Since 2019, they have helped close to 1,000 families, and the demand for CORE continues to grow.
Bar & Restaurant is honored to be a part of their story. We have been a long-time supporter of CORE, and we’re excited to continue that support at Bar & Restaurant Expo (formerly Nightclub & Bar Show) and the VIBE Conference.
CORE has been a charity partner of Vibe Conference for the past nine years. And 2022 will be the second year that Core, along with Southern Smoke, is recognized as a Bar & Restaurant Expo charity partner. Sponsors and attendees have the option to support CORE through their conference registrations.
Read on to hear about CORE, their mission and their future, directly from Bennett. CORE welcomes corporate sponsorships, be sure to speak with them at any of our shows ot learn more.
How many people has CORE helped since you launched?
CORE began tracking data in 2013 and since that time, we have helped more than 1,800 families and granted out more than $4 million.
What motivates the CORE team to work as tirelessly as you do, everyday?
The families that we help drive our motivation. Their strength and endurance inspire us to work even harder. We often receive feedback from our grants program team that a family we help is overwhelmed with gratitude. We also receive heartwarming notes. When an employee faces a qualifying circumstance, and the reality of their situation sinks in, they wonder how they will take care of their family. We helped families this year that lost everything – due to a home fire, or a tornado that destroyed a town and multiple restaurants in Kentucky, or a single mother whose young daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. Being able to provide some financial relief to help them navigate the circumstance is rewarding.
Who is eligible for CORE's assistance?
CORE provides grants in the form of a financial gift to food and beverage operations employees with children when either the parent or their child faces a health crisis, injury, death or the loss of their home or place of work due to a natural disaster. These grants may cover their rent/mortgage, utilities, medical supplies, prescriptions, or basic necessities, depending on their circumstance.
How much support does the average family who comes to you need, financially?
A grant may range from $500 - $4000 with the average grant equaling $2600.
Is there a family that you’ve helped that sticks out in your mind?
There are many stories that come to mind. I received a call from a young man who shared that he had gone through surgery and that his GM told him to reach out to CORE. In our conversation, I asked if he was going to be okay. He shared that he two week prior, he was not sure as he underwent a kidney transplant. He asked if the CORE grant was a loan and when I replied that it was a gift, he was speechless and overwhelmed with gratitude.
Do you have a message for those in the industry?
CORE is here to serve as a resource for operations employees with children who face a qualifying event. We invite the supplier community to support CORE to allow us to help more families.
How can people apply for help or offer donations?
Operations employees with children can apply online for a grant – or anyone can refer a family – on our website. Anyone can make a donation at www.COREgives.org or learn more about becoming a Corporate Partner.
How was your first experience at Bar & Restaurant Expo (formerly Nightclub & Bar Show) in 2021?
We enjoyed meeting attendees and exhibitors at Bar & Restaurant Expo. The educational sessions provided valuable insights and information that we can take back to help our work at CORE. We are thankful to Questex for their support of CORE and helping us share information with operators about CORE as a resource. Many suppliers also stopped by to learn how they can support our work that in turn helps their customers who serve us everyday.
2022 will be CORE’s ninth year at Vibe Conference, what are you most looking forward to this year?
We look forward to connecting in person to say thank you to our many CORE supporters and introducing our organization to new attendees, to share how together we help F&B employees with children when they face a medical crisis, injury, death, or natural disaster. Our industry is one of the most giving in our nation, and it will be heartwarming to recognize a long list of CORE supporters that come from the beverage business vertical and have stepped up to help F&B employees with children.
Apply for a grant or make a donation to CORE through their website, www.coregives.org. You can also make in-person donations at Vibe Conference or Bar & Restaurant Expo.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
This interview was updated on February 18, 2022.
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