Stephen Starr Leads Restaurant-Wide Philly School Fundraiser

Philadelphia chef Stephen Starr has announced that he and all 21 Starr restaurants in the city will lead a month-long  fundraising campaign, on behalf of Philadelphia's public schools. Currently, the district is up against massive budget cuts and large-scale layoffs.

The "Support Our Schools" campaign begins on March 5 at all STARR restaurants in Philadelphia, including Buddakan, Morimoto, Serpico, Parc, The Dandelion, Talula's Garden, Il Pittore and others.

Patrons who visit any Starr restaurant will be asked to include a donation to their bills at the end of their meals. Starr believes that the simplified process of contributing to the city's public schools will encourage customers to do their part. The campaign is aiming to raise $100,000 in donations, while The Starr group will also donate $25,000.

The fundraiser is aimed at benefitting the district's technology, recess, and summer internship programs. The Starr team is also working toward creating exclusive VIP experiences and packages to auction online. 

Karen Lo is an associate editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @appleplexy.