Common Man Celebrates 40th Birthday With $40k Donation to NH Food Bank

MANCHESTER — The Common Man family of restaurants in New Hampshire has marked its 40th year with a $40,000 birthday gift to the New Hampshire Food Bank and the unveiling of a DO GOOD charity raffle to assist 20 other non-profits in the state.

At a party held at the New Hampshire Food Bank in Manchester, Common Man owner Alex Ray, Vice President Diane Downing and CEO Jason Lyon gathered staff, partners and non-profits to announce a month-long celebration of the hospitality family's 40th year, which includes throwback menus, parties and charitable endeavors.

Common Man Vice President Diane Downing announced a charity DO GOOD raffle that partners 21 of New Hampshire's non-profits with 21 Common Man locations. Raffle tickets will be sold for $1 each with all proceeds benefiting the partner organization, and the lucky raffle winner will receive a Common Man gift card for $197.10, to mark the company's inception in 1971.

The Lakes Region charities and locations where supporters can purchase raffle tickets to assist them are:

— Common Man Ashland, Ashland Food Pantry & Community Center

— Common Man Express Deli in Ashland CADY, Inc. (Communities for Alcohol & Drug Free Youth)

— Company Store Ashland Circle Program

— Italian Farmhouse Plymouth Pemi Baker Literacy Foundation

— Flying Monkey Performance Center Plymouth Educational Theatre Collaborative (ETC)

— Foster's Boiler Room Plymouth First Star Tonight

— Common Man Inn Plymouth The Bridge House

— Spa at the Common Man Inn in Plymouth Cinderella Project of New Hampshire

— Route 104 Diner in New Hampton New Hampshire Humane Society

— Lakehouse Grille in Meredith New Hampshire Food Bank

— LAGO in Meredith WLNH Children's Auction

— CAMP in Meredith American Red Cross New Hampshire

— Tilt'n Diner Mix 94.1 Cash and Cans

Lyon said the charities in the DO GOOD raffle contest can also earn an additional $400 Common Man gift card through a voting contest on the Common Man's Facebook page. The non-profit with the highest votes at the end of the month will win. Votes can be cast in the voting app at www.facebook.com/thecommonmannh.

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New Hampshire Governor John Lynch joins Common Man CEO Jason Lyon, Vice President Diane Downing and owner Alex Ray in presenting a $40,000 birthday gift to the New Hampshire Food Bank's Director of Development Colleen Cowette. (Courtesy photo)