Join our 2^nd annual Food for Thought, an annual event that raises funds to benefit Mission Graduates. We are a nonprofit organization that increases the number of youth from San Francisco’s Mission District who are prepared for and complete a college education.

The concept of Food for Thought is simple:

o        Your restaurant, along with others from the Mission District, commit to contributing a portion of your sales on one night — Wednesday, November 10, 2010– to help pave the way to college for young people who live in your community.

o        Mission Graduates commits to promoting restaurants through an extensive promotional campaign and to filling seats and increasing revenue at your restaurant on November 10.

This event gives your restaurant increased media exposure; it increases sales on a Wednesday night, introduces your food to new customers, and is an easy way to demonstrate your commitment to youth in the Mission.

For for information, call or email Art at art@missiongraduates or 415.864.5205 x12.

Paragon Real Estate Group just became our first major sponsor for FOOD FOR THOUGHT 2010! Thank you to all the amazing agents who continue to support amazing community based organizations in San Francisco!

Who’s hungry?! Count me in.

We’re back on for Food for Thought 2010 on Wednesday, November 10th. This years event promises to be bigger and better than last year with more restaurants, more diverse options, great sponsors, and an amazing raffle!

Check out our list of our first 15 restaurants already on board:

Bar Bambino
Bissap Baobab
Destino
Front Porch
Little Baobab
Little Star Pizza
Maverick
Mission Beach Cafe
Panchita’s Restaurant #2
Pica Pica – FIRST NEW RESTAURANT!
Pisco Latin Lounge
Regalito Rosticeria
Specchio
Spork
Sun Rise Restaurant

If you’re interested in becoming a participating restaurant, sponsor, or volunteer ambassador please contact me at art@missiongraduates.org.

Bon Appetit

Here are our 2009 Raffle Winners! Congratulations!! Thank you to all that participated. We brought in over $12,000 from the raffle alone and totaled over $35,000 from Food for Thought. Thank you for your support!

Vacation in San Miguel de Allende. A luxury vacation rental which will leave you breathless. One week + Airfare for two.

3BR, 2BA Located in the Centro neighborhood close to the main Mercado (for wonderful produce) and the artisan’s market (for crafts and folkart), Casa de las Estrellas offers the visitor to San Miguel a special retreat that features the best of local craftsmanship using colorful tile and hand-polished colored concrete, as well as custom stone and ironwork. Courtesy of House + House Architects.

Anna Morfit +1 will be headed to San Miguel de Allende in 2010!!

2 nights stay at a Joie de Vivre Hotel. The luxury boutique hotels have locations throughout California.

Alex Feinman

$250 Gift Certificate to Chef Joe’s Culinary Salon. Voted one of Bay Area’s top 5 culinary classes.

Neil Sekhri

Case of ONEHOPE wine. What a treat!!

Rebecca Rangel

Private Wine Tasting for 6 at Black Coyote Chateau. A leader in Napa Valley wines.

Jenny Vasquez

Gift Certificate for 2 culinary classes at La Cocina. From the team that produced Street Food Festival in the Mission.

Ellen Halligan

Absinthe Gift Certificate totaling $200

Carolyn Adducci

Canteen Gift Certificate $100

Ben Tan

Garcon Gift Certificate $50

Eric Crizer

Thank you all for dining out on Wednesday, November 11th for Food for Thought.

Restaurant checks and raffle envelopes are trickling in, but we are well on our way to reaching our goal of raising $35,000.

So far we have raised OVER $12,000 from the raffle alone. The deadline to participate in the raffle is tomorrow, Tuesday, December 1st at midnight and we will be announcing the winners by the end of the week.

You can donate here.

Thank you all for dining out on Wednesday, November 11th for Food for Thought.

Restaurant checks and raffle envelopes are trickling in, but we are well on our way to reaching our goal of raising $35,000. Read more »

Here is the current list of participating restaurants. With a couple days before we go to print, below is an updated list of the 25 current participating restaurants! Want to join the list? Contact Art at art@missiongraduates.org or 415.596.9726

Mission Graduates is a nonprofit organization that increases the number of K-12 students in San Francisco’s Mission District who are prepared for and complete a college education. 100% of the money raised goes directly to Mission Graduates’ programs.

Andalu

Bar Bambino

Bissap Baobab

CODA

Conduit

Destino

Dolores Park Cafe

Farina Focaccia and Cucina Italiana

Foreign Cinema

Front Porch

La Provence

Little Baobab

Little Star Valencia

Maverick

Mission Beach Cafe

Panchitas #2

Pisco

Ramblas Tapas

Range

Regalito Rosticeria

Slow Club

Specchio

Spork

Sun Rise Restaurant

Usulutan Restaurant

Enter raffle here!

Vacation in San Miguel de Allende. A luxury vacation rental which will leave you breathless. One week + Airfare for two.

3BR, 2BA Located in the Centro neighborhood close to the main Mercado (for wonderful produce) and the artisan’s market (for crafts and folkart), Casa de las Estrellas offers the visitor to San Miguel a special retreat that features the best of local craftsmanship using colorful tile and hand-polished colored concrete, as well as custom stone and ironwork. Courtesy of House + House Architects.

2 nights stay at a Joie de Vivre Hotel. The luxury boutique hotels have locations throughout California.

$250 Gift Certificate to Chef Joe’s Culinary Salon. Voted one of Bay Area’s top 5 culinary classes.

Case of ONEHOPE wine. What a treat!!

Private Wine Tasting for 6 at Black Coyote Chateau. A leader in Napa Valley wines.

Gift Certificate for 2 culinary classes at La Cocina. From the team that produced Street Food Festival in the Mission.

Other gifts:

Claire Squares Chocolates: yum!

“The Sumptuous Small Plates” by Parties that Cook

*****************

To enter the raffle before Wednesday, November 11th send Art an email at art@missiongraduates.org or call at 415.864.5205 x12.

$5- 1 entry

$25- 5 entries

$100- 20 entries

$250- 50 entries

I’m thrilled to announced our long list of Food for Thought 2009 Sponsors!

Title Sponsors:

Rainbow Grocery Cooperative and Paragon Real Estate Group

Gold Sponsors:

Hotwire, Wells Fargo, and House and House Architects

Silver Sponsors:

Bi-Rite Market and Intersect Marketing

Bronze Sponsor:

The Law Offices of Raymond E. Loughrey

Wine Sponsor:

OneHope Wine

Presenting Media Sponsor:

YELP

Gold Media Sponsors:

SF Weekly and 7×7

Silver Media Sponsors:

Food Buzz, Univision, SF Eater

Bronze Media Sponsors:

Mission Dispatch, OpenTable, Tablehopper

Check out this piece on Food for Thought. It will make you smile!