SAN DIEGO – To benefit the important organizations, charities, and groups that serve San Diego’s LGBT community, the Mo’s Universe family of restaurants has created Young Mo’s Being gAy (YMBA), a new employee giving program. Employees of Mo’s Universe-branded restaurants – Urban Mo’s, Baja Betty’s, Gossip Grill, and Hillcrest Brewing Company – goal is to raise $20,000 in the first year of the program for the Hillcrest Youth Center (HYC), which has been selected as the inaugural beneficiary.
“Mo’s Universe has always been committed to supporting the community, giving countless dollars out over our 20 year existence, and we are particularly interested in supporting our LGBT youth,” said Matt Ramon, general manager of Urban Mo’s Bar and Grill, and chair of YMBA.
A committee of employees will join Ramon to decide how the raised funds will be spent. Committee members will meet periodically to choose areas they wish to support, be it art supplies, electronics, guest speakers, or others needs that the HYC has.
Chris Shaw, president of the Mo’s Universe family of restaurants, is looking forward to taking his company’s giving to the next level.
“We can’t have a strong business without a strong community,” Shaw said. “Ever since we started our first business, we have given back to the community. This community has been so good to us and so supportive of our company that giving back is simply the right thing to do.”
The HYC is the only drop-in center in San Diego County dedicated to the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and HIV+ (LGBTQ+) youth. HYC offers programming for LGBTQ+ youth and allies, ages 14-18 including: computer access, health education, basic financial education, youth leadership training, HIV prevention education, life skills training workshops, discussion groups, creative and performing arts programming, visual arts classes, and amazing social activities that include: the Youth Arts Festival, Back to School BBQ and the “Other Prom”.
HYC is committed to providing a safe, affirming space for LGBTQ+ youth to be proud of who they are and the freedom to discover who they might become. They host approximately 300 visits from youth each month. They are 80 percent youth of color – Latino, African-American, Asian and Pacific Islanders, Native American – and 20 percent Anglo-American. They are youth from all over the county, representing almost every zip code. Some come from our most affluent homes, some are homeless. More
than 70 percent are low-income and underserved.
Rick Cervantes, Mo’s Universe marketing staff member and YMBA committee treasure is excited to be a part of this initiative.
“Since I started working for Mo’s Universe, I saw immediately that giving back to this community is ingrained in the business model here,” Cervantes said. “With my background in community service and activism, being given the opportunity to take part in this initiative is incredible. I’m thrilled that we are going to be able to support the HYC, an organization that has been important to me since moving to San Diego.”
Mo’s Universe employees will be asked to voluntarily donate a minimum of $1 per shift to the YMBA program, and can always give more. Customers who wish to donate directly to the fund can also make a donation through their server while visiting one of the restaurants. $2,000 has already been raised, thanks to the support of donors and eager staff members.
Located in the heart of San Diego’s LGBT community, Urban Mo’s, Baja Betty’s, Gossip Grill, and Hillcrest Brewing Company are the group of hetero-friendly gay restaurants that create a long lasting life experience in San Diego, and make up the Mo’s Universe family. Giving back to the community is a key part of our business.
For more information call Eddie Reynoso or Rick Cervantes at 619-491-0400.
