In August of 2011 Uptown began a new initiative called Uptown Cares ! Initiated by the staff so they can learn about philanthropy, and become educated and engaged in the local community, this program has quickly become a great success.

Having watched owners Fred and Beth Tedio’s involvement in the community and in local nonprofits, the amazing Uptown Cafe staff decided to create a monthly event dedicated to bringing awareness and much needed funds to local nonprofits.

At the monthly staff meeting a nonprofit is chosen and the 2nd Saturday of every month is dedicated to that charity. Awareness is raised through flyers, Facebook posts, and email blasts. The nonprofit can participate as much as desired and most have volunteers present to inform and sometimes enhance through sales of their own products.In addition to a portion of sales for the day going to the nonprofits, the staff donates a portion of their tips and time.

For fun and to help raise more funds for the charity each month, Uptown is donating one of our famous Uptown Smoked Salmons. For a $1 raffle ticket customers get a chance to win a salmon and all of the raffle money goes to the charity as well. Donation jars are located in the cafe the week prior to the event for anyone who may not be able to attend that Saturday but wants to contribute.

The response from the staff and the community has been overwhelming and the local nonprofits are extremely grateful. We are proud and honored to be able to give back to the fantastic Tallahassee community we live in through our Uptown Cares project, to be educating the community about nonprofits they may have previously been unaware of, and to further engage our staff in this great community as well ! This truly is a win-win-win!

Some of the nonprofits we have supported to date include:

Pyramid Studios

Vet, Inc

Friends of Bonnie Lindsay

Lee’s Place

Christmas Connection

Gretchen Everhart