CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Zakiayyah Bergen brushed aside tears as she accepted 150 restaurant gift cards for teachers in her school district from Mojo World Eats and Tommy’s last week.
The Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District was one of six Northeast Ohio school systems that received 735 gift cards in Advance Ohio’s Feeding the Frontlines project to reward educators’ exemplary service and dedication to their students during the coronavirus pandemic. They were awarded during Teacher Appreciation Week.
The $20 gift cards were funded by four sponsor businesses: Ohio Savings Bank, Geauga Pawn and Alliance Loan Company, Leaf Home Solutions and Wells Fargo Advisors. The gift cards are redeemable at nine independent restaurants, all of which are recent Cleveland’s Best honorees from contests on cleveland.com to determine the best burgers, barbecue and more in the region.
“It has been a long year, a hard year, for all of us -- and just to think that our community appreciates what we are doing means so much,” said Bergen, who teaches social studies and science at Roxboro Middle School. “Sometimes you just feel like you are swimming upstream all alone. Just to think that someone took time out of their day to come and say, ‘We see you, we care about you and we appreciate you’ means absolutely everything.”
Monica Donahue coordinated the project for Advance Ohio. The initiative’s main objectives, she said, are to honor educators’ commitment and innovation during the pandemic while supporting independent restaurants that were shuttered early in the pandemic. It followed a Feeding the Frontlines program that provided over 2,000 meals to healthcare workers in Michigan last spring.
“We decided to honor those working in education this time because our teachers are out there on the frontline, just as much as the healthcare workers,” Donahue said. “It’s a win for our sponsors because they get great recognition for giving back to the community. It’s a win for the locally-owned restaurants because we’re providing them business.”
Here’s a look at the Northeast Ohio school districts that received gift cards through Feeding the Frontlines last week and the participating restaurants located near each school system.
Cleveland Heights-University Heights Schools
Stephanie Gruber, top right, manager of Tommy's, and Michael Herschman, bottom right, owner and chef at Mojo's World Eats, delivered gift cards to teacher Zakiayyah Bergen at Roxboro Middle School. (Photos by Charlie Swain and Brenda Cain, special to cleveland.com)
Mojo World Eats and Tommy’s each delivered 75 gift cards to the Cleveland Heights-University Heights schools, purchased by Ohio Savings Bank, a division of New York Community Bank.
“These teachers have had a really, really rough year. They have been working so hard and really powered through that. They deserve a special treat to celebrate the end of the school year,” said Stephanie Gruber, manager of Tommy’s on Coventry. “We have always had a really nice relationship with the schools and we were thrilled to be able to give this for them.”
Tommy’s was one of the finalists in cleveland.com’s Most Sinful Dessert contest in 2018 for their homemade milkshakes.
“Three generations of Heights school alums are in this bloodline,” said Michael Herschman, owner and chef of Mojo World Eats. “We are all proud and grateful for our Heights teachers, and teachers everywhere, who are molding the minds of our future in a challenging new academic environment.”
Mojo World Eats and Drink, formerly Lopez, and was a finalist in cleveland.com’s Best Mexican Restaurant contest in 2019.
Tallmadge City Schools
Tallmadge City Schools Superintendent Steve Wood accepts 110 gift cards from Missing Mountain Brewing Company as part of the Feeding the Frontlines initiative to thank educators for their efforts during the pandemic. (Photo by Lori Leonardi, special to cleveland.com)
Missing Mountain Brewing manager Courtney Duncan was among the staffers who delivered 110 gift cards to Tallmadge City Schools Superintendent Steve Wood, thanks to Leaf Home Solutions.
“Missing Mountain Brewing Company loves giving back to the community and we’re grateful to make a small contribution to the amazing teachers. Cheers!” Duncan said.
Missing Mountain was a finalist in cleveland.com’s Best Brewery contest in 2019. In addition to its brewing operation, the restaurant offers a full menu.
“The recognition meant a lot to our team,” Wood said. “The 110 gift cards proved extremely popular. They were made available to all who planned on using them and the gift cards were all spoken for within a few hours.”
Akron City Schools
Gift card recipients at Akron City Schools may want to try the Passillada from Uncle Tito's Mexican Grill. The dish was a hit with cleveland.com judges and includes plenty of shrimp, chicken and scallops. (photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com)
Leaf Home Solutions purchased 81 gift cards from Uncle Tito’s Mexican Grill for Akron City Schools. Uncle Tito’s added an additional $5 to each card. Uncle Tito’s was a finalist in cleveland.com’s Best Mexican Restaurant contest in 2019.
“Everyone is going through hardships and we are blessed,” said Uncle Tito’s manager Antonio Lopez. “It comes down to nothing to help out the community. That’s what we are here for, to give a little back to our community.”
Hudson City Schools
Many educators in the Hudson City School District will be able to treat themselves to delicious smoked meats at Oak and Embers barbecue restaurant. The eatery was a finalist in cleveland.com's 2019 Best Barbecue restaurant contest. (photo by Lisa DeJong, Plain Dealer)The Plain Dealer
Leaf Home Solutions purchased 60 gift cards from Oak & Embers Tavern, which added another 10 vouchers for educators. The restaurant was a finalist in cleveland.com’s Best Barbecue contest in 2019.
“Education is the foundation of our great country and the teachers are the bricks on which that foundation is built,” said Chris McCauley, co-owner of Oak and Embers, which also has locations in Chesterland and Orange Village. “We could not be more proud to provide our support to our great teachers.”
Cleveland Metro Schools
Educators at Buhrer Dual Language Academy accepted some of the 200 gift cards that were given to the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Pictured, from left, are Shari Obrenski, president of the Cleveland Teachers Union, and teachers Migdalia Caraballo, Socorro Fuentes, Edna Vega and Maretta Hamilton and Mark Baumgartner of the union. (photo courtesy Mark Baumgartner, special to cleveland.com)
Ohio City BBQ and Blue Habanero each delivered 100 gift cards to the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. The cards were purchased by Wells Fargo Advisors.
Blue Habanero was the winner of cleveland.com’s Best Mexican restaurant in 2019, while Ohio City BBQ was a finalist in the Best Barbecue contest that same year.
“I feel so honored to have been given the opportunity to participate in something like this,” said Nav Singh, owner of Ohio City BBQ. “Ohio City BBQ is always looking for ways to engage with the local community from fundraisers through donating food, holding food drives and donating gift cards to various raffles. It’s always a great way to meet people in the community.”
According to Mark Baumgartner, a trustee with the Cleveland Teachers Union, the gift cards were awarded in a random drawing. Numbers were assigned to each member of the union, including support staff, and the computer randomly chose the recipients, which included 141 teachers, 41 professionals, two nurses, two counselors and two psychologists.
West Geauga Schools
Diane Martin, right, of the West Geauga school system accepted 150 gift cards from a representative of JC's Restaurant and Johnny's Grill and Pizzeria. Geauga Pawn and Loan Association supplied 75 gift cards from each eatery. (photo by Jim Nash, special to cleveland.com)
One-hundred-fifty teachers and support staff in the West Geauga School District received gifts cards from Johnny’s Grill and Pizzeria in Newbury and JC’s Restaurant in Burton thanks to Geauga Pawn and Alliance Loan Company.