CRA member Bruno Serato, proprietor of Anaheim White House Restaurant, Anaheim, won big in this year’s National Restaurant Association (NRA) “Restaurant Neighbor Award� competition. Serato was honored as 2005’s “Humanitarian of the Year� which singles out an individual restaurant operator’s dedication, commitment, and support to his or her community. This is the first time in the seven-year history of the competition that a California restaurateur has been selected as a national winner. CRA also selected Diann Banaszerk (Applebee’s, Petaluma) and Mike Laffen (Half Moon Bay Brewing Co., Half Moon Bay) as state finalists for this year’s competition.

Serato, along with 2005’s large- and small-business division winner, was recognized Sept. 13 at a special ceremony at NRA’s Public Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C. Serato was awarded for his involvement with two local charities: Paint Your Heart Out, which aids the city’s older residents with free home repairs and house repainting; and the Boys and Girls Club for whom Serato has either donated, contributed, or raised funds and in-kind donation will into the six-figure range. In addition to the well-earned recognition, Serato also won $5,000 from NRA and awards cosponsor American Express to continue his community-program involvement.