Brennan Family Establishes N.o. Hospitality Workers Disaster Relief Fund

HOUSTON (September 3, 2005) - The cooks, servers and restaurant workers of New Orleans have provided fabulous times and memories for millions. In their time of need after Hurricane Katrina, the Brennan family - of the Commander's Palace Family of Restaurants based in New Orleans - is spearheading a relief fund to benefit professionals in the hospitality industry who will be without jobs as the city is rebuilt. The New Orleans Hospitality Workers Disaster Relief Fund will be managed by the Greater Houston Community Foundation (GHCF), a 501c3 organization.

How Restaurateurs and the General Public Can Help:

7The Brennan family has set up an organized fund - the New Orleans Hospitality Workers Disaster Relief Fund - to which restaurants, or the public at large, can send donations. The fund will benefit hospitality employees who are without work in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Restaurants or individuals can make checks out to the New Orleans Hospitality Workers Disaster Relief Fund and send to:

New Orleans Hospitality Workers Disaster Relief Fund
C/O Brennan's of Houston
3300 Smith Street
Houston, TX 77006

or

Visit the Greater Houston Community Foundation (GHCF), the 501c3 organization managing the fund, at www.ghcf.org, and make donations online.

Given that there are no administrative fees associated with this fund, more than 97% of the proceeds will go to those in need. Money will be distributed by the fund to New Orleans Hospitality workers after making application. For now, hospitality workers may contact www.ghcf.org to apply. Additional application locations will be available shortly.

The Brennans are encouraging fellow restaurant owners to help. A great way for restaurants to raise money quickly and easily can be to include an opportunity at the bottom of guest checks, entitled "NO Hospitality Workers Relief", for customers to add a donation to their bill. The restaurants can easily distinguish and forward donations from there. The Brennans have also designed a poster that participating restaurants can display. The poster will be emailed and can easily be printed at a shop such as Kinko's.

Brennan's of Houston will host an open house at the restaurant (3300 Smith Street, Houston, TX) on Friday, September 9 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. A kind donation of $40 per person is requested. Friends, family and loved ones are invited to stop by for hors d'oeuvres and a glass of wine in support of the professionals in the hospitality industry who will be without jobs as New Orleans is rebuilt. All proceeds will benefit the New Orleans Hospitality Workers Disaster Relief Fund.

The Brennans are also encouraging a friendship bracelet initiative. They are asking volunteers, church youth groups, and the public at large to take part in making (and selling for proceeds to any charity) purple, green and gold friendship bracelets. Made from string, beads, or any other material, the Brennans feel that a nationwide campaign in these colors will provide a recognizable symbol of strength and way of warming the hearts of New Orleanians and others on the Gulf Coast.

Co-Owner Alex Brennan-Martin is acting as the family spokesman at this time.

For more information and updates, visit www.ghcf.org, www.commanderspalace.com and www.brennanshouston.com

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