No shortage of charity at A Conservative Café

Half of April 2 proceeds will go to Saint Anthony campaign

CROWN POINT A Conservative Café prides itself on preserving “the true American values of industry, family and purposefulness.”

Add, “giving back to the community,” to that list.

The nationally known coffeehouse-restaurant, which opened in 2007 and quickly gained notoriety for its concept and atmosphere, isn’t conservative when it comes to being charitable.

Owners David Beckham and Bill McCall will donate half of the proceeds from the café’s April 2 receipts to benefit the Saint Anthony Medical Center Capital Campaign, which is raising funds to help the less fortunate. They also will keep the café open an hour later that day, until 9 p.m., to further benefit the cause.

“The whole concept behind Conservative Café is to be a community gathering and meeting place. We pride ourselves on being part of the community and giving back. We believe in traditional values of wanting to help people who truly need help,” Beckham says.

The campaign, launched a year ago, seeks to raise $4.5 million, half of which will be matched by a local donor. So far, more than $1.8 million, which includes the match, has been raised.

The money will be used to relocate and expand the hospital’s St. Clare Clinic and to renovate the Pre-Natal Assistance Center, both of which provide services for the underprivileged.

Funds also will go toward enhancing services at Franciscan Point, Saint Anthony’s recently opened outpatient health complex, located at 12800 Mississippi Parkway, near the intersection of U.S. 231 and Interstate 65.

Warren Johnson, director of development for Saint Anthony’s parent, Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Northern Indiana Region, expressed thanks to Conservative Café for its efforts.

“We are so grateful for the wonderful support of Crown Point businesses like the Conservative Café and Circle Restaurant (which conducted a similar fund-raiser in January) in helping to raise needed funds to continue the latest in health care to our community through Franciscan Point and now Saint Anthony,” Johnson says.

“And, supporting St. Clare Clinic is so important to our community as more and more workers are out of a job and can benefit from its offer of free health care. With all funds matched by a generous community donor, this is truly an example of how our community can work together …”

A Conservative Café, with the slogan, “Coffee Served Right,’’ offers a breakfast menu until 11 a.m. After that time, it serves an array of sandwiches, pizza, soups, side dishes and salads. Also offered are a Conservative Kids menu, a catering service, box lunches and meeting room rental, not to mention a variety of gifts.

Besides its trademark coffee, which ranges from “Liberal Brand Decaf” to “Radical Right Blend,” the café offers a variety of liquid refreshments, among them specialty espressos and beer and wine, as well as standard fare of cold and hot drinks.

A Conservative Café, located at 201 N. Main St., is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday (9 p.m. only on April 2) and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. For more information or to order in advance, call (219) 661-1700, or visit: www.ConservativeCafé.com.