The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation has named Gecko’s Hospitality Group a 2017 Florida Restaurant Neighbor Award winner for the fifth consecutive year.

The awards honor restaurants that go above and beyond in community service and that aim to inspire other restaurateurs to get or stay involved in their local communities.

Gecko’s Hospitality Group owners Michael Quillen and Mike Gowan have a long history of working with schools in Sarasota and Manatee County, providing Super Student Free Meals to tens of thousands of elementary students and supporting many teams, projects, fundraisers and staff in area schools.