Press Release Statement - The Trojan Grille
This press release statement was created for my Fundamentals of Effective Writing course, based on a given story. It addresses a controversy involving The Trojan Grille's Chairman of the Board, Helen Angelides, and the company’s response. The statement reaffirms the restaurant’s commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and accountability, outlines Helen’s resignation and leave of absence, and issues a formal apology to those affected.
Diana Castillo
3/29/20232 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Trojan Grille Addresses Recent Comments by Chairman of the Board
Fredericton, NB – March 28, 2023 – Good afternoon, everyone. I’m Diana Castillo, Communications Manager for The Trojan Grille. Thank you for joining us this evening. I am joined by Alex Angelides, President of The Trojan Grille, and Johnny Vega, Restaurant Manager. Alex will make a statement regarding Helen Angelides, and we ask that all questions be held until the end.
As a corporation, we are aware of the recent comments made by the restaurant’s Chairman of the Board and want to assure everyone that we are taking swift and decisive action. At The Trojan Grille, our core values—diversity, inclusivity, honesty, accountability, and respect—are the foundation of the experience we provide to our customers. We uphold a zero-tolerance policy for verbal or sexual harassment, ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for all employees and guests.
We understand that the recent statements made by Helen Angelides have caused concern and uncertainty among our employees, customers, partners, and the LGBTQ+ community. After speaking with Helen, she acknowledges that her words were hurtful and wrong. While she never intended to cause harm, she understands the impact of her statements.
Helen has been a longtime supporter of many individuals in the LGBTQ+ community, including Johnny Vega, our restaurant manager, whom she helped in a time of need. However, we take this situation seriously, and accountability remains a priority. After discussing the matter with Helen, she has agreed to take a six-month leave of absence and will resign from her position as Chairman of the Board.
We also want to address concerns regarding financial contributions. Helen denies any involvement in funding opposition to same-sex marriage and has not made any financial commitments related to this cause.
On behalf of The Trojan Grille, I extend a sincere apology to anyone who was hurt by these statements. Our commitment remains to fostering an inclusive environment, ensuring that all employees and customers feel valued and respected. Moving forward, we will continue to learn from this experience and uphold the standards that define our company.
Media Contact:
Diana Castillo
Communications Manager
The Trojan Grille
hnvyw@stu.ca
+1 (506) 471- 4631