Image: Rendering of the original Lizard's Thicket.

Lizard’s Thicket, the 40-year-old, family-owned and operated restaurant specializing in traditional Southern fare with 15 locations in South Carolina, announces that it has raised thousands of dollars for local schools and nonprofit organizations as part of its 40th anniversary celebration.

Additionally, Lizard’s Thicket will award a scholarship annually to a University of South Carolina College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management student in honor of Bob Williams and Anna Tronco Williams, founders of Lizard’s Thicket.

Giving back to the community is a Lizard’s Thicket hallmark, and through the business’s 40th anniversary this fall, Lizard’s Thicket:

· hosted 21 school nights, with a particular school featured at a Lizard’s Thicket location. On the designated evening, 10 percent of the restaurant’s sales were donated to that particular school; Lizard’s Thicket has donated more than $4,000 dollars total to these schools. More school nights are scheduled through the end of the year.

· sold special coffee mugs to kick off the 40th anniversary celebration this fall. The limited-edition mugs were sold for $5 each, beginning Weds.,Sept. 27. By donating proceeds from the sales of the mugs, Lizard’s Thicket was able to donated $3,600 total to local nonprofits Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Columbia, Sharing God's Love and Palmetto Place Children's Shelter.  Lizard’s Thicket selected these nonprofits because they work to strengthen families and support children in the Midlands.

· is honoring the founders of Lizard’s Thicket, Bob and Anna Williams, by initiating the Bob and Anna Tronco Williams Lizard’s Thicket Scholarship at the University of South Carolina College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management. Each year, the scholarship will be awarded to one deserving USC HRSM student.

“My parents started Lizard’s Thicket in 1977, and their legacy has partially been in inspiring our family to give back to the community that has given so much to us,” said Bobby Williams, Chairman of Lizard’s Thicket. “It seems fitting to give back to organizations of the Midlands that work to strengthen families and schools. We are especially proud that we’ll award a scholarship in honor of my parents to a deserving student who wants to work in the hospitality industry.”

The Bob and Anna Tronco Williams scholarship fund is also accepting donations. More information here.

About Lizard's Thicket:

Lizard’s Thicket, a family-owned and operated country cooking restaurant specializing in authentic regional Southern home cooking at reasonable prices, was first opened by Bob and Anna Williams in Columbia, S.C. in 1977. The business has grown to a multi-unit operation with 800 employees, including Bob and Anna’s children and grandchildren.