Ra Sushi does some good

Ra Sushi (Credit: Courtesy Ra Sushi)

Megan Finnerty
Metromix

Sometimes it seems Scottsdale has become known as much for its sushi as for its sunsets.

To anyone who might be shocked by sushi's prevalence in the West's Most Western City, I would remind them that here, sashimi is more than just raw fish.

It has become synonymous with style, sex appeal and the kind of chic crowd that spends as much on their hair products as they do on their shoes.

That's why it's so refreshing that one of the most notorious sushi hot spots is spending this week raising money for the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis.

With their fifth annual “Nicky's Week” through Saturday, May 30, the Scottsdale-based chain of 22 Ra Sushi restaurants and bars across the country will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from several dishes and drinks to the hospital.

You can help sick children and honor the memory of Scottsdale's Nicholas Mailliard, the nephew of one of Ra's founders, by purchasing edamame, Tootsy Maki, Shrimp Shumai, Fiji water, Red Bull energy drinks, Republic of Tea beverages, and select cocktails.

Longtime St. Jude patient Mailliard lost his battle with brain cancer in February 2005 at age 13 and since then, Ra has worked to promote St. Jude, a research and treatment facility that treats children regardless of a family's ability to pay.

“St. Jude is an incredible organization with an important mission, and we want to help ensure that its services remain available to children and families battling serious illness,” said Scott Kilpatrick, co-founder and vice president of Ra Sushi, in a statement.

Nicky's Week has raised nearly $400,000 for the hospital since 2005, and this year's goal is $110,000.

All donations from the weeklong effort will help pay for St. Jude's development of treatment and cures for diseases such as brain tumors, leukemia, sickle cell disease, and other life-threatening illnesses in children.

“We are very appreciative of events like Nicky's Week that help raise money to support St. Jude,” said John Vranas, senior vice president of the fundraising organization of St. Jude, in a statement. “Because of the generous support of this community and people around the country, St. Jude is able to continue to find cures and save children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases.”