Pennsylvania Conference for Women Donates $175,000 to Women-owned Pa. Restaurants in Initiative with PRLA

To help women impacted by the pandemic’s economic fallout, the Pennsylvania Conference for Women has donated $175,000 to women-owned restaurants across the state in an initiative with the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association.

As a result, 70 women-owned restaurants from all corners of Pennsylvania received $2,500 to help pay employees and defray other costs. The Pennsylvania Conference for Women provided the funds to the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, which dispersed the grants. A list of the grant recipients can be found below.

“Women in business are facing unprecedented challenges this year, and the Pennsylvania Conference for Women wanted to give back in a meaningful way,” said Leslie Stiles, Pennsylvania Conference for Women Board President. “This initiative truly demonstrates the power that comes from women helping women.”

The non-partisan, nonprofit Pennsylvania Conference for Women – whose annual conference will be held virtually on November 11th – is committed to promoting gender equality and to amplifying the influence of women in the workplace.

This year women are shouldering a disproportionate burden due to the impact of Covid-19. The pandemic has resulted in mass layoffs in many industries that employ women, such as hospitality and retail; has increased caregiving responsibilities; and has had a devastating impact on women-owned small businesses.

Pennsylvania restaurants have been forced to lay off more than 330,000 employees due to the pandemic, with current staffing levels at just 63 percent of pre-pandemic numbers.

“The partnership between the Pennsylvania Conference for Women and the PRLA is helping many women-owned restaurants in our state pay employees, provide a service to their community and, in many cases, keep their doors open,” said John Longstreet, PRLA president & CEO. 

The virtual Pennsylvania Conference for Women this year will feature speakers including Academy Award-winning actor, producer, and activist Viola Davis and education advocate and author Tara Westover. The highly interactive Conference also will feature topical breakout sessions and will give attendees opportunities to network, support women-owned businesses in a virtual exhibit hall and participate in career coaching and resume reviews. 

The Pennsylvania Conference for Women is part of the nation’s largest network of women’s conferences, with events in California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Texas, as well as year-round programming.

Tickets are available at the Conference website. To apply for media credentials to cover the 2020 Pennsylvania Conference for Women, please complete this form.

Women-owned Restaurants Receiving Grants

5 Kidz Kandy Café & Catering
Kristy Vliet
Waynesburg

9 Café
Tierra Patterson
Pittsburgh

941 Saloon
Sonia Varrasso
Pittsburgh

Alexis' Smoothies
Alexis Nicholson
Enola

Aloha Smoothie Company
Lauren Shinn
Ambler

Ants Pants Café
Liz Fleming
Philadelphia

Azorean Café
Elsa Santos
Pittsburgh

Banh Mi & Ti
Kellie Truong
Wexford

Baology
Judy Ni
Philadelphia

Barrett's Pub
Marie McClellan
Archbald

Brewed Awakening
Amy Frazier
Spring City

Brilliant Beverages
Chardae Taylor
Philadelphia

Café on the Corner
Lateresa Blackwell
Pittsburgh

California Coffee Bar LLC
Sarah Mendak
Pittsburgh

Carmi Soul Food
Carleen King
Pittsburgh

Cook and Shaker
Laura Viegas
Philadelphia

Darby's Pub and Restaurant
Barbara Orgovan
Uniontown

Delicias Acriollas Colombianas Bakery DBA Café Tinto
Rosemary Caicedo
Philadelphia

Detailed Tap House Corporation
Remina Ohara
East Stroudsburg

Devil's Den
Erin Wallace
Philadelphia

Diane's Sidewalk Deli
Diane Troisi
Wayne

El Balconcito II
Rayda Dianderas
Philadelphia

El Merkury
Sofia Deleon
Philadelphia

Elizabeth's An American Bistro
Elizabeth Long Furia
Lewisburg

Everday's A Sunday
Natalie DeiCas
Pittsburgh

Farmer x Baker
Jen Urich
Gibsonia

French Toast Bites
Charisse McGill
Aldan

Freshii
Paula Reyes
East Norriton

Guante Family Restaurant
Sayda Diaz
Mifflintown

Heroes Bistro
Christina Flewellen-Howze
Pittsburgh

HipCityVeg
Aviva Goldfarb
Philadelphia

Historic Revere Tavern
Tina Edgell
Paradise

House of Pho
Van Tran
Southampton

Hublersburg Inn
Adrienne Biddle
Bellefonte

Icebox Creamery &Café
Linda Chahine
Zelienople

Jioios Restaurants
Jeanean Smith
Greensburg

Joos
Jennifer Hrivnak
Altoona

Knead Broad Street
Jennifer O'Neill
Harrisburg

Lisa's Milltown Deli
Lisa Showers
Milton

Love Rocks Café
Jackie Heidelberg
McKees Rocks

Market Cross Pub & Brewery
Ashleigh Corby
Carlisle

Mendicino's Pizza
Lynn Mendicino
Covington Twp.

Miss Rachel's Pantry
Rachel Klein
Philadelphia

Modern Café
Irene Zotis
Pittsburgh

Mr. Yock's BBQ
Shannon Ives
Roaringbrook

Original Oyster House
Jennifer Grippo
Pittsburgh

Oui
Christy Jae Cheyne
Philadelphia

Pocono Rocks
Jodi Bohdal
Blakeslee

Puyero Venezuelan Flavor
Manuela Villasmil
Philadelphia

Race Street Café
Stacy Wessel
Philadelphia

Renata's Kitchen
Catherine Steenstra
Philadelphia

Rough Edges Brewing
Casey Phebus
Waynesboro

Roxanne's Catering LLC
Roxanne Easley
Monroeville

Sakura Teppanyaki & Sushi
Fengping Geng
Pittsburgh

SBK Café and Market LLC
Sheila Rhodes
Lansdale

Scooter's
Dawn Quinn
Lititz

Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream
Donna Puglin
Pittsburgh

Sugar and Smoke
Andrea Robinson
Pittsburgh

Sunset Room
Sandy Sanderson
Elizabeth

T&C Grille/Bakery 420
Constance Wiser
Tunkhannock

Tequilas Inc.
Annette Suro
Philadelphia

Terrene
Kimberley Haugh
Pittsburgh

The Beacon
Debra Krelow
Renfrew

The Frogtown Chophouse
Christina Noone
Cresco

The Lucky Dog Gastropub
Barrie Marino
Conshohocken

The Mt. Nittany Overlook by Harrison's
Kirsten Henshaw
Centre Hall

The Pizza Joint
Jena Grisafi
Bethlehem

Ting's Kitchen
Tina Chuang
Pittsburgh

Triple Bottom Brewing Company
Tess Hart
Philadelphia

Ye Olde Inn
Anna Riggen
Dunbar