Operation BBQ Relief is a Finalist for Philanthropic Award

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Aug.9, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Operation BBQ Relief, a 501c3 nonprofit disaster relief organization, has been recognized as a regional finalist in the Midwest Region in the 4th Annual Classy Awards, the nation's largest philanthropic awards.The winner will be announced during a black-tie awards ceremony in San Diego on September 22.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120809/CG55460)

"This is a big honor for Operation BBQ Relief," said Stan Hays, co-founder and co-executivedirector. "Being a finalist will mean much more national attention and the potential tobuild our database of volunteers from coast to coast so we can quickly mobilize volunteers when a disaster occurs."

The CLASSY Awards is the largest philanthropic awards ceremony in the country, celebrating the greatest charitable achievements by nonprofit organizations, socially conscious businesses, and individuals worldwide. In 2011, nearly 2,000 organizations and volunteers were nominated for a CLASSY Award, and their collective efforts impacted the lives of more than 200,000,000 people in countries worldwide.

Operation BBQ Relief was founded in May, 2011 by Jeff Stith, Stan Hays and Will Cleaver after they planned and implemented a large relief effort in Joplin, Missouri. Professional competition barbecue teams from eight states responded to Joplin in the wake of the massive EF5 tornado that killed over 150 people. The group served approximately 120,000 meals in eleven days to displaced families and rescue and first responders. Since then, Operation BBQ Relief has responded to floods and tornado disasters in nine states around the United States, and in only one year, has served more than 150,000 meals. Operation BBQ Relief is now prepared to repeat these operations anywhere and whenever natural disasters threaten the lives and safety of Americans.

StayClassy is a fast-growing San Diego-based startup that develops an online fundraising product used by thousands of nonprofit organizations around the world. The company was founded in 2006 by a couple of friends who were looking to fundraise for charity, but didn't know how to get started. They envisioned a platform that made it easy for nonprofits to turn their supporters into fundraisers; and so, they set off to build one. Recently, the founders were selected by Bloomberg Business Week as one of the top 5 most promising social entrepreneurs in America.

For additional information about Operation BBQ Relief, Inc., visit our website at www.OperationBBQRelief.orgor on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/OperationBBQRelief.

Media Contact: Jeff Stith, Operation BBQ Relief, Inc, 8165905057, info@operationbbqrelief.orgNews distributed by PR Newswire iReach: https://ireach.prnewswire.com

SOURCE Operation BBQ Relief, Inc