Chapter 2: - Center for Responsible Travel

northern Manhattan. Our diners, our guests, are giving back to the local neighborhood aroundtheir destination. The idea of traveler‘s philanthropy has taken hold at NYRP.When and Why Did You Begin Your Travelers’ Philanthropy Program?The New Leaf Restaurant & Bar is a for-profit enterprise and wholly-owned subsidiary of thenonprofit NYRP. The restaurant‘s cottage-like ambiance and lush surroundings provide aserene setting to enjoy a modern American menucreated by Executive Chef Scott Campbell. The50,000 diners a year who travel to northernManhattan to eat at the New Leaf are engaged intravelers‘ philanthropy, whether they know it ornot. Since achieving profitability in 2008, the netprofits from New Leaf meals and drinks have goneback to parent company NYRP, which uses themto pay the salaries of our environmentalrestoration staff and purchase plant materials toinstall in Fort Tryon, Highbridge, and SwindlerCove Parks. The diners are tourists to Fort Tryonand northern Manhattan, and by eating at the NewLeaf, they help to support the restoration andconservation of the local environment. It‘s not Costa Rica; it is Washington Heights!New Leaf Bar & Restaurant, New York City.Credit: NYRPBy employing local residents, the New Leaf also provides economic support to the surroundingcommunity of Washington Heights. In the past three years, the New Leaf Restaurant & Bar has:o received an annual Michelin Guide Recommendation;o increased its Zagat ratings for food quality (+1) and service (+3)o returned significant revenue back to NYRP to support park maintenance, plantings, andbeautification.How Did You Select Projects?We go where we are needed most: underservedneighborhoods lacking access to clean and safeopen space. NYRP has been working in northernManhattan parks since 1995, cleaning up garbage,uncovering paths, removing invasive weeds, andreplanting native flowers, shrubs, and trees as anoperational partner of the New York City Parks &Recreation Department.How are Your Employees and Your CompanyInvolved in the Philanthropy?Curtis ‗50 Cent‘ Jackson Community Garden,Queens, NYC. Credit: NYRPThe New Leaf Restaurant & Bar has a staff of 40 servers, kitchen and bar personnel, andmanagers. New staff members are taught the precepts of NYRP‘s mission and history. NewLeaf‘s employees find it especially enjoyable to be able to claim a nonprofit‘s action in their own45