Restaurants may be the largest private-sector employer in the United States, but that's nothing to take for granted. The restaurant business is a large industry of small businesses operating on narrow profit margins. Each time an interest group or a legislator proposes a new mandate or a new tax, restaurants are hit hard. Restaurants need to be prepared to fight back -- which is why the SAFE (Save American Free Enterprise) Fund exists.

Save American Free Enterprise (SAFE) serves as a catalyst to mobilize, educate and execute the restaurant industry's political efforts at the state level in cooperation with the National Restaurant Association (NRA), state restaurant associations (SRA), multi-unit companies and allied partners.

Since inception in 1996, SAFE has contributed nearly $6 million to state partners in their efforts to fight anti-business legislation and initiatives. SAFE has led the effort to provide financial and professional resources directly to states where and when it is needed the most to fight anti-business legislation and initiatives on key issues including, wage, health care and menu labeling.

It is clear that issues important to the restaurant industry have migrated from the federal to the state level of government. As this political environment is shifting, we have learned that to be successful in defending our business interests we must mobilize, educate and execute our industry's political efforts at a level never seen before. SAFE has accepted the challenge to lead this effort, creating "SAFE Mission 2008." A two-year strategic campaign aimed at providing leadership and financial support to improve the restaurant industry's political position through organization and education focused at the state level. For more information about SAFE Mission 08 contact Kelly Benedetti.

Wage, health care, menu labeling. The NRA State Government Relations team works closely with SAFE and state restaurant associations to ensure these issues and others important to the industry aren't regulated in your state house, by working to defeat them in other states throughout the country. SAFE believes for every dollar we spend in one state, the industry will save two dollars in another. Find out what's happening at the state and local level.

The restaurant industry is under attack in states throughout the country. SAFE relies solely on contributions from the restaurant industry. Donating to SAFE helps ensure that every fight has the leadership and financial resources to achieve success. SAFE can accept personal or corporate contributions. Contributions to the National Restaurant Association SAFE Fund are not deductible for federal income tax purposes, as they may be used for state lobbying efforts. Additionally, the contributions are also not tax deductible as charitable contributions.

• Richard E. Marriott SAFE Golf Invitational, November 2-4, 2008, Lake Las Vegas, NV. For more information, contact Mary Anderson at 312-261-5313 or manderson@restaurant.org.
  
• 6th Annual Lone Star Invitational, Dallas, Texas, Fall 2008. For more information, contact Kelly Benedetti.
• Ohio Restaurant Association SAFE Golf Classic, Summer 2008. For more information, contact ORA at 800-282-9049 or e-mail brice@ohiorestaurant.org.
• 7th Annual SAFE Rocky Mountain Classic, The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colo., Summer 2008. For more information contact CRA at 303-830-2972.