Excellent food and a good cause a perfect combination

Story and photo by Edie Sidle
The Portland Upside
July 2009

Sungari Pearl gives back by supporting local businesses and charities.

What does a restaurant featuring modern Chinese cuisine have in common with a nonprofit organization? People with good intentions and caring hearts. That is exactly why Sungari Pearl partnered with Breast Friends for the month of May.

Sungari Pearl, a sustainable Chinese restaurant in the Pearl District, has a commitment to being a positive business in the community. While in today’s business world it’s easier just to focus on the bottom line, the people at Sungari Pearl also believe in creating a “harmonious environment for all” and their business practices definitely reflect this commitment.

First of all, Sungari Pearl uses locally-sourced, organic ingredients whenever possible in their food preparation. They feature fresh ingredients such as home-made sauces, wild-caught seafood, cage-free poultry, organic beef and even home-made oils. The idea is to help customers make healthy and natural food choices.

They also live the commitment to promoting a sustainable lifestyle by recycling all of their oil for bio-diesel, using reusable materials whenever possible, giving out green bags to take-out customers and encouraging customers to use their own bags in exchange for a free soup or appetizer. Even the furniture in Sungari Pearl is made right here in Oregon. Such eco-friendly practices make this caring business green, indeed. Sungari Pearl even goes a step further by caring for their community as well as the environment. The restaurant partners with nonprofit agencies and generously supports local charities even during these economically-challenging times. Specifically, they feature a “Spotlight Charity of the Month” and prepare fresh meals every Monday morning for Loaves and Fishes.

For the month of May, Sungari supported the nonprofit organization, Breast Friends, through their Thursday Jazz Nights. A modest cover charge from restaurant patrons and a cash donation from Sungari Pearl’s staff went to Breast Friends to help fund their valuable programs and services. In addition to the customary pleasant surroundings and wonderful food, customers were entertained with music from two popular groups, Acoustic Minds and The Andre St. James Trio.

Based on the premise that no woman should go through breast cancer alone, Breast Friends was created to provide emotional, spiritual and physical support to breast cancer patients, their families and friends. The nonprofit organization has recently extended these vital services to support women with cervical, uterine, endometrial, and ovarian cancer as well.

Speaking in praise of Sungari Pearl’s support, Becky Olson, president and co-founder of Breast Friends, says, “It is not every day, and especially in this economic climate, that businesses are so willing to share their wealth. It does not go unnoticed in the community.”

During the month of May Sungari Pearl’s customers enjoyed tasty food (the duck salad rolls and tang tang noodles are de-lish!) and good music in a lovely atmosphere while they donated to a worthy cause at the same time. Everyone—the restaurant, the charity, and the customer—ends up winning. What better way to spend an evening?
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Visit Sungari Pearl at 1105 NW Lovejoy Street, Portland, or online at ­www.sungaripearl.com
Find out more about Breast Friends at www.breastfriends.com

After living in Utah, Alaska, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Colorado, Edie has finally settled down in Portland. As a newcomer to Portland, she is thoroughly enjoying discovering this vibrant city!