Causes Archive
Giving Back in 2012, Moving Forward in 2013!
We can’t let 2012 come to a close without thanking everyone who chose Saint Germain Catering for their catering needs! Our clients are so important to us; we truly enjoy making each event down right delicious and delightful from top to bottom. It’s a privilege to serve you! Your loyalty and appreciation for our passionate pursuit of excellence has made this past year another extremely successful one.
Our passions extend beyond our catering business, and a main driver for us each day is that the success of our business enables us to support a number of organizations that do phenomenal work helping military families, children, K-9 medical research/detection dog training and more. Please read about these terrific groups in our spotlights below. They are full of talented, caring, passionate people who’ve made a tremendous difference in 2012, and will continue to do so in 2013 and beyond with our help, and others like you as well. From all of us at Saint Germain Catering, we wish you and yours a safe, successful and happy 2013!
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OPERATION HOMEFRONT DC CHAPTER http://www.operationhomefront.net/dcmetro/
Saint Germain donated $25,000 to help military families
Operation HomeFront Partners With Wounded Warrior Project to Expand Service to Wounded Warriors
MISSION: Operation Home front provides emergency financial and other assistance to the families of our service members and wounded warriors.
VISION: Through generous, widespread public support and a collaborative team of exceptional staff and volunteers, we aspire to become the provider of choice for emergency financial and other assistance to the families of our service members and wounded warriors. Where there is a need we do not provide, we will partner with others for the benefit of our military families.
In 2011, OH has met 155,984 needs for military families, including active duty, Guard and Reserve members from all branches of service. Since its inception, Operation Homefront has provided more than $128 million dollars of funding to programs to benefit military families. Moreover, it has served more than 4,200 wounded warriors and their families.
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NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (NICU) AT INOVA Children’s Hospital in Fairfax, VA
www.inova.org/healthcare-services/pediatrics/types-of-services/nicu.jsp
* Saint Germain sponsored an $8,000 event for the return of graduated children who had been born premature
The NICU at Inova Children’s Hospital is the first in the nation to receive The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ for Prematurity. This certification represents the highest level of care for premature birth patients.
INOVA Children’s Hospital is home to the largest subspecialty neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Northern Virginia. Their 75-bed, level III NICU cares for high-risk infants requiring specialized care and observation.
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PENN VET WORKING DOG CENTER http://pennvetwdc.org/
* Saint Germain made sizeable donations, to sponsor a year’s training for a new working/detection dog, to help conduct a study to drastically change how sick dogs are administered anesthetics, and for K-9 training products.
Established in 2007, the Penn Vet Working Dog Center, is part of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine and serves as a national research and development center for detection dogs.
With the U.S. national security under constant threat from attacks, detection dogs are still the best tool that we have to detect and mitigate potential threats. Search dogs are also critical for the detection of victims of natural and man-made disasters. Our goal is to increase collaborative research, scientific assessment, and shared knowledge and application of the newest scientific findings and veterinary expertise to optimize production of valuable detection dogs.
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INTERVENTIONAL PAWS http://www.interventionalpaws.org/
Interventional Paws, founded by Saint Germain President Mina Ebrahimi, is a non-profit, 501C3, working to advance veterinary medicine while helping to improve the lives of pets everywhere. We work closely with the Animal Medical Center in New York City and the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary School at the University of Pennsylvania—home of the country’s first minimally invasive interventional radiology service— though our reach extends far beyond.
An established tool in human medicine, interventional radiology has tremendous potential for the treatment of serious maladies in pets. With expert veterinarians like Dr. Allyson Berent, the veterinary community is acquiring and refining similar procedures to those in human medicine to provide nonsurgical alternatives with decreased morbidity/mortality rates, minimal anesthesia time, shorter hospital stays, and lower costs.
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Saint Germain Catering is a (certified) woman-owned business staffed with talented chefs who proudly use the freshest natural ingredients, and drivers who deliver exceptional service with a smile to Washington DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia. Visit our homepage at www.saintgermaincatering.com. Call us at (703) 506-9396. Known as corporate catering specialists (Food That Means Business!), we exceptionally cater all events, large and small, full service or drop-off: weddings, bridal/baby showers, birthdays, anniversaries, Bar/Bat-Mitzvahs, graduations, funerals, BBQs, holiday parties and more.
SGC Donates $25,000 to Opearation Homefront
The Operation Homefront DC Chapter assists Military families during difficult financial times by providing everything from food assistance to auto repairs to community events. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Operation Homefront was formed in February 2002 to support the families of deployed service members immediately following 9/11. The majority of those they help are the lowest-paid service members who have unmet needs due to financial hardship, death, injury, or physical or mental detriment as a result of service in Iraq or Afghanistan. These may include active duty, Reserve, National Guard and Veteran service members.
Nationally, $.94 of every dollar donated to Operation Homefront goes to programs. It is with an open heart that Saint Germain Catering is donating $25,000 to the Operation Homefront DC Chapter. Because a majority of their funding has been cut, the DC chapter is in desperate need of money to help soldiers from Walter Reed and Fort Belvior area with food and the cost of living.
As the the cold weather of winter comes in, I ask you to think of the families of the brave men and women who have risked their lives for this country. Many of them are finding it difficult to pay rent, fix their cars, buy groceries, or even turn on the heat. When you give to Operation Homefront, you help make life just a little easier for our Military families and Wounded Warriors. Consider the following:
- $100 – Average amount provided to families for critical baby items: It’s heart-breaking to know that our heroes and their families often do not have enough money to buy formula and diapers for their infants.
- $161 – Average amount provided for food assistance: This is the average amount helps Military families put food on the table.
- $300 – Average amount provided to assist in paying utilities: For our Military families, $300 can mean keeping the power on and having running water.
- $1117 – Average amount provided to help with rent or mortgage: Some of our Military families are only days away from being homeless.
Please consider donating to this amazing cause – it is the least we can do to repay our heroes.
-Mina
SGC Donates to Working Dog Center
Dr. Cynthia Otto watches as two paws dig through dusty rubble. A well-trained nose slips between broken pieces of concrete, searching for any sign of life. The detection dog is committed to finding survivors and works tirelessly into the night, well after the large flood lights have come on at Ground Zero.
Dr. Otto is a veterinarian who specializes in emergency, critical care, and disaster medicine. After her experience working with detection dogs at Ground Zero and consulting with the military about the health of search-and-rescue dogs, she is certain that detection dogs are invaluable.
“There are so many jobs now that dogs are being used for,” Otto tells NPR. “Originally it was kind of looked at as that patrol dog or the bomb-detection dog, but now they’re being used to find the IEDs (Improved Explosive Devices). Some of them are actually being used for therapy in the field, which is really incredible. But they’re starting to look at all of the different potential components that these dogs can contribute to…and the detection area is so important because these dogs are better than any machine that we have — and they can save lives.”
A working dog isn’t your typical four-legged buddy; they are highly and specifically trained canines that perform unique and critical tasks that save human lives. Historically, working dogs have served as messenger dogs during war time; helpmates to farmers in the fields; helping hands to people with disabilities; and as patrol dogs protecting the ports and entryways of our nation. Detection dogs, sometimes called “sniffer dogs,” are those that use their sense of smell to identify particular odors (such as explosives, drugs or lost people). New research shows a dog’s ability to identify infectious diseases, such as Salmonella, and even cancer.
With the United States national security under constant threat from attacks, detection dogs are still the best tool we have to detect and mitigate potential threats. Search dogs are also critical for the detection of victims of natural and man-made disasters.
Seeing first hand how these amazing canines help shape human lives, Dr.Otto established the Penn Vet Working Dog Center in 2007 as part of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine. The center serves as a national research and development center for detection dogs. The goal of the center is to increase collaborative research, scientific assessment, and shared knowledge and application of the newest scientific findings and veterinary expertise to optimize production of valuable detection dogs.
There is currently a shortage of highly trained working dogs in the US. Because of this, Dr. Otto has established the Puppy Foundation Program to lead the way in responsibly breeding the best and healthiest of these important dogs. The program is special in the fact that it:
- Applies rigorous scientific methods to validate the hereditary, behavioral and environmental influences on the selection and training of working dogs
- Identifies medical factors and create health screenings that will enhance the working lifespan of detection dogs
- Tests and refines current proposed detection standards to develop across-the-board standards for all aspects of performance
- Involves the community, including youth at risk, veterans and graduates of prison dog raising programs in our puppy socialization
- Shares information gained
All of the dogs at the center are donated from kennels or breeders. While their breeds vary, Dr. Otto says it’s important that the dogs are no more than a few months old, so that the training can begin when they are impressionable, but not scared. “We’re interested in the health and performance,” she says. As a tribute to the dogs involved in the 9/11 search and rescue, each of the seven dogs in the first class has been named after a dog who worked at Ground Zero. The center, which is funded through charitable donations, has also matched the dogs with foster families who are Penn employees.
As with all good deeds, there is a shortage of funding. After visiting the program and seeing the amazing first puppies enrolled, Mina Ebrahimi, CEO of Saint Germain Catering, was more than happy to donate $1,500 for K-9 training products for the program. However, it’s not enough to keep the program going. The center will need $50,000 more soon.
Find out how you can help here.
Not convinced that dogs are incredible creatures? Read inspiring stories here and learn more about the 9/11 rescue dogs here.
Saint Germain Sponsors NICU
This Sunday, August 26, 2012, Saint Germain is honored to sponsor the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit’s (NICU) Graduate Reunion at Inova Children’s Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia.
NICU at Inova Children’s Hospital provides specialized intensive care for fragile newborns; they are also the first in the nation to receive The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Prematurity. This certification represents the highest level of care for premature birth patients.
Because of this unit’s efforts the neonatal mortality rate for infants born at Inova Children’s Hospital is among the lowest in the nation. Their highly-trained team of hardworking pediatric professionals work around-the-clock to provide services to infants born within a 200-mile radius.
The NICU Graduate Reunion is held annually by Inova Fairfax and Fairfax Neonatal Associates for all infants and children who have benefitted from the support of this unit. This is Saint Germain’s first time becoming involved with this event, and we are proud to be donating all of the food, catering and service staff for the occasion.
This amazing event helps support the children and families who have been touched by the life-changing services the NICU provides. For more information about NICU at Inova Children’s Hospital please call 703-776-6260.
Let us know your thoughts, respond in the comments below, tweet us at @SGCatering or post on our Facebook Fan Page!
What Memorial Day Means To Saint Germain
Barbecues, picnics, road trips with family and friends, outdoor games; there are so many fun ways to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend. Whether you’re hunting for the best sales at Tysons Corner or heading to downtown Washington, DC for the Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Rally and the National Memorial Day Parade; Saint Germain provides the perfect Summer Picnic Basket To Go for each event.
Memorial Day is much more than overeating and having fun; it’s about remembrance. Memorial Day originally began as an honorable day of remembering the fallen of the Civil War. As our country aged, the definition of Memorial Day expanded to include all the men and women who put their lives on the line for our country. Every day, the military, police, and firefighters protect our country’s freedom and the safety of its citizens. This year’s National Memorial Day Parade will feature a tribute to the generation that served and sacrificed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn, following the formal end of the war last December.
Recently Saint Germain was honored by being awarded a wonderful flag and letter for proudly serving the Wounded Warriors organization with an Ice Cream Social. We are committed to nurturing those who keep our liberties strong and will never take for granted our freedoms and rights or the people who protect them. We wish you a happy Memorial Day Weekend!
Tell us how you plan to celebrate Memorial Day in the comments below, tweet us at @SGCatering or post on our Facebook Fan Page!
Celebrate Administrative Professionals Day With Us
Administrative Professionals Day will mark its 60th anniversary on April 25, 2012. The job and responsibilites of an administrative professional have changed alot of the years, but admins have always remained a huge and intergral part of any company. By helping ensure that jobs get done right, on time and under budget, admins are one of the most important roles in any organization. In a world that demands the accuracy and speed in a complex digital world, admins are masters of it all. They serve as the gatekeepers for many customers, clients and employees.
Over the years, Administrative Professionals Week has become one of the largest workplace observances. Celebrated worldwide, this holiday brings people together for events, educational seminars and individual corporate activities recognizing support staff. There are more than 4 million secretaries and administrative assistants working in the United States, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics, and over 8 million people working in various administrative support roles.
In honor of Administrative Professionals Week, Saint Germain Catering is offering the following special menus:
Staff Appreciation Breakfast #1
- Fluffy Farm Fresh Scrambled Eggs
- Diced Yukon Potatoes O’Brien
- Turkey Sausage Links and Crispy Bacon Strips
- Buttermilk Pancakes with Maple Syrup, Fruit Topping and Whipped Butter
- Mini Muffins, Danishes, Bagels and Croissants
- Sliced Seasonal Fruit and Berries
$12.99 Per Person minimum 50 guests
$11.99 Per Person minimum 100 guests
Staff Appreciation Breakfast #2
- Assorted Breakfast Egg Frittata “Cupcakes”
- Assorted Donuts and Dipped Donut Bites
- Sliced Seasonal Fruit Platter
- Individual Greek Yogurts with Granola
$10.99 Per Person minimum 50 guests
$9.99 Per Person minimum 100 guests
Staff Apprciation Lunch #1
- Mediterrean Chicken Kabobs & Beef Kabobs with Roasted Vegetables
- Shirin Polo Rice with Pistachios
- Mixed Field Greens Salad with Feta Cheese, Black Olives and Pepperonicinis
- Red Pepper & Garlic Hummus Dip
- Dill Cucumber Yogurt Dip
- Crispy & Soft Pitas
$17.50 Per Person minimum 50 guests
$16.50 Per person minimum 100 guests
Staff Appreciation Lunch #2
- Selection of our Around the World Sliders
- Mini Pretzel Hot Dog Bites
- Condiments Station with lettuce, tomato, pickles, mustard, mayo, ketchup
- Sweet Potato Wedges
- Homemade Parm Chips with Dip
- Assorted Gourmet Cake Pops
$17.50 Per Person minimum 50 guests
$16.50 Per person minimum 100 guests
