Ruby Tuesday Supports American Red Cross in Superstorm Sandy and Nor’easter Snow Relief Efforts

Through the Ruby Relief Fund, dine-in guest donations and the Ruby Tuesday Community Give Back Program, Ruby Tuesday will give to those affected by the storms in the Northeast region

MARYVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In order to contribute to the relief efforts of the American Red Cross after Superstorm Sandy and the Nor’easter snowfall, Ruby Tuesday is announcing three separate initiatives that will provide donations to those affected by these devastating storms.

“Through the generosity of supporters such as Ruby Tuesday, the Red Cross is providing shelters, hot meals, relief supplies, and emotional care to help families with their most critical needs now and as they begin to move toward recovery.”

“For the past 25 years, Ruby Tuesday has operated restaurants in the communities most impacted by the recent Hurricane Sandy and Nor’easter storms. With more than 200 restaurants in the impacted areas, we have employees, friends and family who are in need of our help today more than ever. Ruby Tuesday is extending our support to the American Red Cross by donating in three different ways to help those in the Northeast area impacted by the storms,” said Rob LeBoeuf, Ruby Tuesday Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer.

Ruby Tuesday will make contributions in the following ways:

1. Ruby Tuesday’s Ruby Relief Fund is an employee-sponsored fund that enables Ruby Tuesday team members to donate and provide financial assistance to others in times of natural or man-made disasters and crises. All Ruby Tuesday team members impacted by these storms are being taken care of through the relief funds, as it was originally created to do. Our employees have requested that, through the Ruby Tuesday Relief Fund, we direct $50,000 to the Red Cross to assist others in the recovery efforts.
2. From Nov. 10 through Nov. 21, 2012, participating Ruby Tuesday restaurants will offer guests the option of voluntarily adding a donation to their dining checks. All guest donations collected during this time will be donated to the Red Cross.
3. Through the Ruby Tuesday Community Give Back Program, an ongoing outreach initiative where charitable organizations are able to receive a percentage of net sales from guest meals at a scheduled event, participating Ruby Tuesday restaurants will hold Give Back nights on Nov. 19 and Nov. 26, 2012, in our New Jersey, Delaware and Long Island restaurants. Ruby Tuesday will give 20 percent of net sales from those events to the Red Cross.

“Superstorm Sandy affected millions of people and this week’s nor’easter has brought even more disruption to communities in its path,” said Neal Litvack, Chief Development Officer of the American Red Cross. “Through the generosity of supporters such as Ruby Tuesday, the Red Cross is providing shelters, hot meals, relief supplies, and emotional care to help families with their most critical needs now and as they begin to move toward recovery.”

About Ruby Tuesday:

Ruby Tuesday, Inc. has Company-owned and/or franchise Ruby Tuesday brand restaurants in 45 states, the District of Columbia, 12 foreign countries, and Guam. As of September 4, 2012, we owned and operated 712 Ruby Tuesday restaurants and franchised 78 Ruby Tuesday restaurants, comprised of 34 domestic and 44 international restaurants. Our Company-owned and operated restaurants are concentrated primarily in the Southeast, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest of the United States, which we consider to be our core markets.

About Ruby Tuesday Community Give Back Program:

At Ruby Tuesday we have a history of corporate citizenship and take pride in the support of charitable organizations in the communities where we live and work. Although we give extensively, most of our funds are already committed. Therefore, we created the Ruby Tuesday Community Give Back Program to offer organizations another way to raise money for their specific needs. The Ruby Tuesday Community Give Back Program offers a charitable donation to local organizations that host a dining event at any of our 700 plus locations. Our contribution is based on 20% of the net sales from guests that bring in a Give Back flyer for the organization’s specific event. Since the fundraising takes place at a local Ruby Tuesday restaurant, the money that is raised will benefit the communities in which we live and work.

About the Ruby Relief Fund:

We believe in giving back, and do so in a number of ways. We are very proud to support the Ruby Relief Fund where Team Members contribute out of concern and care for their co-workers. The Ruby Relief Fund is a 501 (c) (3) entity that provides support to our team in times of disaster. Established after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, this ongoing relief effort provides financial assistance to Ruby Tuesday employees in time of natural or man-made disasters and crises.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50472775&lang=en