Hiller's Markets: Good Deeds in the Making

At a time when consumers are cutting back on restaurant dining but not cooking more, prepared foods are ever more enticing. That notion, and a long-held dedication to community involvement and philanthropy, drove Jim Hiller of Hiller's Markets to create Good Deeds in the Making, an effort to showcase prepared foods and shine the spotlight on worthy causes.

Every couple of weeks, Hiller's introduces two new dishes that are favorites of community leaders. Those leaders choose Michigan-based charities and causes to which 100% of profits from sales of their dish will go.

Through November 16, Hiller's is selling dishes sponsored by Lisa Diggs of the Buy Michigan Now campaign and Danialle Karmanos, local fitness and philanthropy leader. Using all Michigan ingredients, corn and smoked whitefish fritters were created for Diggs and will benefit Gleaners Food Bank. Tuna pasta salad is Danialle's favorite personal recipe and a lowfat option as Hiller's already sells a popular tuna pasta. Profits from sales of this dish will go to DKWIO, Danialle Karmanos Work It Out, which teaches kids the importance of fitness and nutrition.

Following is a schedule through the end of 2009 and into 2010 with subsequent dishes and accompanying causes: 

November 16 - 30: Janice Cherkasky's diabetic apricot salad and Jeff Loeb's pasta                    Causes: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Hiller ALS Center at WSU                           December 1-14: Deena Lisak's corned beef & cabbage and macaroni & cheese                             Cause: the Achievement Center at the Multiple Sclerosis Society                                            December 15 - January 1, 2010: Robbie Timmons' turkey meatloaf and a dish still to be determined by Paula Tutman                                                                                                                     Causes: CANTER and Children's ToothFairy Foundation                                                         January 2 - 15, 2010: Joy Cantor's pasta with Thai peanut sauce and tofu                                           Cause: SASHA Farm

Dishes to be reintroduced in 2010:

Jill Syme's stuffed cabbage and Lila Lazarus' quinoa with roasted vegetables                                   Cause: Kids Kicking Cancer                                                                                                    Rabbi Paul Yedwab's petite quiche with spinach, mushroom and Jarlsburg and dietitian Gail Posner's no-fat black bean salad                                                                                                        Causes: Forgotten Harvest and Ministrelli Women's Heart Center                                                       Tony Fayne's Buffalo chili and Samira Cholagh's eggplant salad                                                      Causes: the Agree Foundation at Temple Israel and the Chaldean Federation's Adopt A Refugee Family Program

Hiller's Markets, a family-owned business founded in 1941, operates seven supermarkets, which are located in Commerce Township, Union Lake, West Bloomfield, Ann Arbor, Plymouth, Northville and Berkley. Hiller's partners with thousands of charities and organizations, and notes Michigan-made products with smiling, Mitten-state shelf tags in every aisle.

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