Published September 2002

Flying Pig wins
Neighbor Award

SCBJ Staff

In recognizing community service statewide, the Washington Restaurant Association named The Flying Pig of Everett the recipient of the 2002 Restaurant Neighbor Award in the single-unit category.

Joel Starr, owner of The Flying Pig, said he was honored by the award and credited the hard work of his crew and the response from the community for making the restaurant’s charitable efforts a success.

“The reason this is so important to me, is this community has always been so wonderful to us. ... The effort — it’s effortless,” he said.

During the past five years, The Flying Pig’s community service efforts have included raising more than $45,000, donating 3,000 man-hours and serving more than 600 people at charity dinners, Starr estimated. The restaurant also has worked closely with the Jaycees, helping the group with pancake breakfasts and an upcoming fund-raising dinner.

And every year, The Flying Pig has closed its doors to the public the Tuesday evening before Thanksgiving and opened to special guests — women and children facing tough times — for a traditional holiday feast. YWCA’s Pathways for Women has been selected in the past, and a local women and children’s shelter is under consideration for this year’s festivities, Starr said.

“My whole crew volunteers their time, and you can see the positive mark it leaves on them,” said Starr, noting that regular customers of The Flying Pig also pitch in to serve guests.

“It’s a magical night,” he said.

Under the Restaurant Neighbor Awards program, two restaurants in the state are selected for their community service efforts and given $500 to help support a charity of their choice. State winners then are eligible for the National Restaurant Association honors and $5,000, which will be awarded at the Public Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C., in September.

Along with The Flying Pig, Great Western Dining Red Robin of Vancouver was named a state award recipient in the multi-unit category.

“This year’s winners are role models for other restaurants and businesses who have a responsibility to give back to their communities,” said Gene Vosberg, president and CEO of the Washington Restaurant Association. “We’re honored to recognize their commitments to community and charity; and we wish them the best of luck as they represent Washington state for the national grand prize.”

Starr already has his message in mind when he talks to the folks in D.C.

“As humbling as the whole thing has been, there does come a time when you really have to go out there and fight for your crew. They make this happen day in and day out,” he said. “When I talk to the national board, they’re going to hear all about it.”

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