Burgers For Art, Northwest Style
Local, sustainable and charitable are probably not the first words that pop into your mind when you think of a fast food joint.
But Burgerville, a Pacific Northwest owned and operated chain of quick service restaurants, is that and more.
I had the opportunity to learn more about Burgerville’s culture through the work I’ve been doing with the Regional Arts and Culture Council (RAAC) here in Portland. As part of my professional transition into the non-profit and public sectors, I’ve been consulting with RACC's Work for Art program, which solicits employee contributions in the workplace to fund arts and culture organizations here in the Portland metro area. I’ve been helping RACC look at ways to grow and expand the Work for Art workplace giving program in anticipation of its 10th anniversary campaign this summer.
Today was Burgerville’s charitable campaign kickoff which brought together the store managers from all of their restaurants to their headquarters in Vancouver, Washington. Work for Art was one of three “umbrella campaigns” featured, along with the local United Way chapter and an environmental fund here in Oregon called EarthShare.
I was impressed and inspired by the level of commitment to service and charitable giving that both Burgerville leaders and the individual store managers expressed during their event. Manager “champions” were deputized to return to their store to have one-on-one conversations with each of their “crew members.” The expectation is that every Burgerville employee — most of whom are hourly employees — make and communicate a decision about participation in the charitable campaign, even if that means they won’t be making donation this year. The point is to understand the need and make a commitment one way or another.
My RACC colleague, Windy Hovey, made an awesome presentation about the arts and their impact in our community. And Work for Art manager Kathryn Jackson brought the Burgerville managers a special treat. Poet and performer Lauren Steele, a high school senior at Jefferson High School here in Portland, performed an original work of song and verse in her Work for Art performance. Nothing like a passionate artist to feed the soul!
Kudos to Burgerville for building and fostering a culture of service, charity and support of the arts throughout their organization. I wish more organizations were as deeply grounded in and connected to their communities.
