It all started with Franks Diners sister restaurant The downtown Onion Bar & Grill. The Onion location, at that time, was considered to be in a “rough” part of town. The needs of the homeless were obvious to our founder Larry Brown. The ability to help these unfortunate people out by bringing them into the facility became nearly impossible. The need for a new way to help became imperative. It was decided that every year we would donate and raise money to help those less fortunate than ourselves, and this tradition is stronger today than ever before.
The generosity started over 25 years ago continues today at Franks Diner. Through voluntary employee payroll deductions with an owner match program. Our owners and crew are proud to be a local business leader in these fund raising efforts. Several hundred thousand dollars and countless hours have been given back to our community through these efforts by the Crew and Owners of Franks Diner and The Onion Bar & Grill..
Franks Diner and The Onion (Landmark Restaurants of Spokane) are substantial donors for The Spokesman Review Christmas Fund. Our downtown locations see the direct hardships that fall upon the homeless and hungry. It is often difficult to help on a daily basis which led us to seek out the Spokesman Review Christmas Fund and other local charities. Chosen organizations must demonstrate that 100% of the money raised will help Spokane’s homeless. Our crew and owners are honored to be substantial provider to a program that provides food, clothing, and shelter for hundreds in need.
Amazing Kids Program
We are very active in our local schools with our Amazing Kid Program. Each year we supply thousands of “AMAZING KIDS” gift cards to local teachers as a means to help encourage good behavior in their students. These gift cards are good for a free ice cream sundae’s at Franks Diner and the Onion.
Teachers from kindergarten – 5th grade use these to spot and publicly praise a student any time good behavior is witnessed. Nothing is more encouraging to a child’s mental health development than being honored in front of ones peers. This program supplies our local teachers with a tool to do this. It has become so successful that we delivered over 10,000 gift cards to teachers in schools all over Spokane and the surrounding area in 2011 alone. The program continues to grow with educators requesting gift cards every year.
Other Charity Organizations
The following local programs also receive time, money and contributions each year since 2001 from the crew and owners of Landmark Restaurants of Spokane. DBA, The Onion Bar & Grill and Franks Diners.
BIG TABLE, BEYOND PINK, Pro Start Culinary, 2nd Harvest Inland Northwest, Women’s & Children’s Free Restaurant, Volunteers of America, Olive Crest, Ronald McDonald House, Inland NW Candle lighters, Children’s Village Foundation, Spokane Neighborhood Action Program (SNAP), Union Gospel Mission, Hospice of Spokane, Vanessa Behan, Department of Social & Health Services, Spokane Suburban North Lions Club, Spokane Guilds’ School, countless local homeless organizations and school programs as well as Gloria, a grandmother who is raising her two grandsons.
If you have an organization, please let us know when you book your next dinner party with us and we will donate 10% of your net check back to your group. Please call Christy Belisle at (509) 209-6789 to arrange this in advance