The Briad Group

Community Relations

Fundraising strengthens hope, spirit and community. The Briad Group understands that and is committed to several annual events that encourage “giving back.” Whether it’s through our Benefit Nights, the Golf Tournament or the events leading up to the Bartender Championship, our company has raised millions of dollars in support of various charities, and we will continue to do so.

This is what we call creating positive community relations. It helps us maintain our guiding principles, which include creating positive passion and energy, recognizing great work, being the best we can be, leading with respect, and having fun. At Briad, it’s our way of life.

To learn more about each of the above-mentioned events, continue reading.

Benefit Nights

In 2009, The Briad Group’s T.G.I. Friday’s® Brand Division initiated a special program to generate company awareness and goodwill within its communities. Called Benefit Nights, it targets local charities and local chapters of national charities, school groups in need of fundraiser ideas, as well as non-profit community groups raising funds for worthy causes to help them achieve their fundraising goals.

How do we do this? Once we’ve identified an opportunity, that is, a group in need of a fundraising outlet, we help move things forward so the group has a venue in which a fundraiser can take place. Along with the group coordinator, T.G.I. Friday’s® employees decide what the fundraiser will be, schedule a date, coordinate the event, create the marketing plan, and host the event at a specified T.G.I. Friday’s® restaurant location.

Briad provides the non-profit outlet with a flyer template so they can print and distribute their own marketing materials, which guests will need to bring in order to participate. On that evening, a portion of the proceeds from food ordered will be collected and sent directly to the charity involved. It’s that simple.

We know fundraising is a valuable part of strengthening hope, spirit and community. So if you know of a group in need of a fundraising venue, T.G.I. Friday’s® would like to help. All you have to do is contact your nearest restaurant to reserve the date and time. We’ll do the rest.

Golf Tournament

Play golf? We do, too. That’s why The Briad Group hosts a charity golf event each year. Initiated in 1999, and organized by our East Coast Human Resources Department, the Briad management team works its network to gather donations and prizes for the annual event.

About thirty people from our New Jersey office volunteer on the day of tournament. They run registration, set up the contests and sell raffle tickets.

We’ve grown the event from $22,000 in charitable donations that very first year to $335,000 a decade later. It’s our way of giving back to the communities who support our businesses and the organizations that do so much to help others.

In total, we’ve been able to donate nearly $2 million to charitable organizations because of this event. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, which is a Wendy’s charity (begun by the founder Dave Thomas who was adopted as a child), has received more than $1.5 mil from our golf outings.

Here’s a sample list of who else our donations have helped:

Children’s Miracle Network: $78,000
Make a Wish Foundation: $50,000
Friends of the Casa: $50,000
National Adoption Center: $48,000

The annual Golf Tournament allows us the opportunity to show we care.

Bartender Championship

Shake, rattle and pour. That’s what T.G.I. Friday’s® World Bartender Championship looks like. It began in the mid- to late-1980s as a challenge between local bartenders and has since grown to represent the entire restaurant chain. It’s something The Briad Group would not ignore. Friday’s® restaurants host local competitions throughout the year, sending winners to the regionals, then on to the semi-finals. This year, the best of Briad will advance to the finals in Las Vegas before the winner heads over to the World competition in Dallas, TX.

The event honors the trend-setting, bottle-tossing style of Friday’s® bartenders around the globe. This tradition of “flair bartending” makes Friday’s® restaurants all over a hotspot for high-energy service and a fun food and drink experience. The event is also used to raise funds for charitable organizations, with a portion of proceeds from food and beverage purchases going to designated charities.

If you’ve never seen a local competition, keep your eyes open for news of upcoming events at a Friday’s® near you. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. We want you to be part of the fun.