JACKSONVILLE, Fla., — The National Restaurant Association (NRA) has given Firehouse Subs its Restaurant Neighbor Award in the national chain category. The awards were presented Sept. 11 in Washington, D.C., at the Association's annual Public Affairs Conference. Stephen Joost, Firehouse Subs' chief financial officer accepted the award, and will receive $5,000 from the NRA to continue community outreach. The money will be donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) of Northeast Florida.
"The MDA and its clients have benefited greatly from the Firehouse Subs Tennis Tournament over the last eight years," said Leslie Wildes, MDA executive director. "Firehouse Subs is truly deserving of such a prestigious honor, and is to be commended for its commitment to the community. We would also like to thank the NRA for the $5,000, which will help in funding the search for a cure for Muscular Dystrophy."
Firehouse Subs won the Restaurant Neighbor Award at the state level in 2003. This year the company was one of four national winners selected including Drago's Seafood Restaurant in Metairie, La.; Mo's Restaurants in Newport, Ore.; and Billy "bd" Downs of bd's mongolian barbeque in Ferndale, Mich.
"We are more than humbled by this honor and accept this award on behalf of all the Florida-based restaurants that donate time, money and energy to helping the many needy organizations and causes throughout state and the U.S," said Robin Sorensen, co-founder and president of Firehouse Subs. "The impact Firehouse Subs has made is due to the support of our philanthropic involvement by our customers and our employees."
