News & Media
Documenting the work and its impact.
Milestones, stories, press coverage, and the ongoing record of what Service! is building — a resource for journalists, funders, partners, and anyone following along.
Featured Stories
Announcements, launches, and milestones.
ImpACT Stories
hOW WE’RE HELPING THE COMMUNITY.
Anikqua’s Story
Anikqua Williams came to Café Overlook, a workforce development initiative run by Service!, after a rough stretch. Life had thrown a few things her way, causing the kind of setbacks that make it easy to stop believing the story gets better.
But she stayed and she learned. When she graduated from our program, she didn't just land a job. She launched a career at the Franklin County Child Support Enforcement Agency.
It might surprise you that hospitality training prepared her for government work, but it shouldn't. Customer service is the foundation of every profession that involves people. At Café Overlook, Anikqua learned how to stay calm when someone is upset, how to listen without shutting down, and how to make a stranger feel like they matter.
Every person who walks through the doors of Café Overlook is working toward something. Help Service! continue providing these life-changing opportunities and keep our doors open.
“Thank you for investing in me — in my growth, my development, and in the dreams I’m working toward.”
— Anikqua Williams
Watch Anikqua Williams speak about Service!
Service’s Annual Impact Story
From providing direct financial relief during times of crisis to building long-term career pathways, Service! is dedicated to strengthening Central Ohio’s hospitality community. This video highlights how our relief grants have served as a vital lifeline for small, independent restaurant owners and frontline workers facing unexpected challenges. By easing financial burdens and keeping local doors open, we help preserve the vibrant food culture that makes our city thrive.
Building on that foundation of care, our flagship social enterprise, Café Overlook, takes our mission a step further through sustainable workforce development. Operating in partnership with the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, Café Overlook goes beyond job placement by offering living wages, healthcare, childcare support, transportation assistance, and professional coaching. Watch to see how these combined efforts empower local workers, support small businesses, and create a more equitable, resilient future for the service industry.
Watch our 2024 Impact Video
Watch Our 2025 Impact Video
Video by State House Studio
Press
Coverage of Service!'s work.
Videos
See the work in motion.
Watch interviews with service industry workers advocating for change.
Highlights from our 2025 Gala
Photos
Galleries from the work.
2025 Annual Gala
The 2025 Second Annual Gala was a powerful night of community and celebration. Together with local leaders, restaurant owners, and advocates, we raised vital funds to support Central Ohio's hospitality workforce, ensuring programs like Café Overlook continue to change lives and redefine what a career in the service industry can be.
2024 Annual Gala
Highlights from our 2024 First Annual Gala, a night dedicated to celebrating our service industry family and raising critical support for workers across our community.
2020 Relief Work
Where it all began: A look back at 2020, when Service! first stepped up to feed out-of-work hospitality staff and distribute emergency grants to local workers during the height of the crisis.
Blog
What’s on our minds.
Reports & Publications
Documentation for funders, partners, and press.
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Reports
Press kit
Tell your story
Have a story to share, or covering Service! for a story of your own?
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