The Greenwood Fire Relief Fund has made its second round of distributions to those affected by the months-long arson spree.
The first round was distributed Nov. 14, when the GFRF distributed $1,000 to each of the four businesses destroyed in the Oct. 23 arson: Green Bean Coffeehouse, Pho Tic Tac, CC Teriyaki and Szechuan Bistro.
This time, the fund also distributed money to the other businesses that were damaged by the arsons, as well as two people whose homes were damaged (one of those people was seriously burned). Some of the businesses suffered smoke and water damage. The businesses include:
- A to Z Tees (in the basement beneath Romio’s Pizza & Pasta)
- CC Teriyaki
- CPA Seattle
- Green Bean Coffeehouse
- Greenwood Academy of Hair
- Kalia Indian Cuisine
- Olive You
- Pho Tic Tac
- Romio’s Pizza & Pasta
- Rosewood Guitar
- Szechuan Bistro
More than $10,000 has been raised through individual donations and a wide range of fundraising activities, from staged readings by Taproot Theatre actors to numerous businesses with donation jars on their counters.
“The Board identified businesses and residents who were in greatest need based on a thorough report made by the City of Seattle Office of Economic Development,” according to a press release. Fundraising will continue until Jan. 31, 2010, then a final disbursement will be made in February, before closing out the GFRF.
Other fundraising efforts that are ongoing or coming up:
- Silent auction sponsored by members of Mars Hill Church on Dec. 18 at The Upper Crust Catering Banquet Room
- Karma by the Cup, 333 NW 85th St., is donating 5 percent of its profits this quarter to the GFRF.
- Peet’s Coffee & Tea in Interbay has chosen the GFRF as its Holiday non-profit.
- Q Cafe in Interbay, will donate 10 percent of their sales in January to the Green Bean.
- A fund has been set up at Viking Bank to assist Taproot Theatre’s recovery efforts. Donations can be made at any Viking Bank branch; ask for the ‘Fire Relief Fund.”
- You can donate to the Greenwood Fire Relief Fund at Chase Bank on the corner of Greenwood Ave. and 85th St.
Several local businesses continue to collect donations:
- Chocolati Café
- Mr. Gyros
- Neptune Coffee
- Terra Bella
- Gorditos
- Greenwood Academy
- Neighborhood Service Center
- Romio’s Pizza & Pasta
- Gary’s Games
- Baranof
- Great Clips
- Yen Wor Garden
- Wayward Coffee
- Sweet on You
- Phinney Neighborhood Association
- Naked City Taphouse
Other businesses interested in collecting money for the fund are asked to first contact the board at [email protected].
Members of the Greenwood Fire Relief Fund board include:
- Ann Bowden, Development Director, Phinney Neighborhood Association
- Steve Giliberto, President, Greenwood/Phinney Chamber of Commerce
- Cecily Kaplan, Director, Greenwood Senior Center
- Jim Lustig, Owner, Upper Crust Catering
- Cindy Potter, Co-Founder, Greenwood Aurora Involved Neighbors (GAIN)
- Trevor Stanley, President, Greenwood Community Council
- Kathleen Warren, Parsons Public Relations
