Our Story
“Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.” - Howard Zinn
Who We Are
The Good Bowl is a premier full-service Vietnamese eatery that offers a fresh, healthy, and unique dining experience while providing our guests an opportunity to easily contribute to their communities.
The Good Bowl donates $1 to charity for every bowl sold. Our guests will have the opportunity to select from three charities, including a local, national, and global non-profit organization.
Purpose & Mission
The Good Bowl exists as a catalyst to bring people together with a unique cuisine and experience centered around nourishing our hearts, minds, and communities.
Our mission is to leverage great food and warm hospitality to impact our communities on a local, national, and global level.
Our Core Values
We believe that business can – and should – be a force for good.
We believe that curiosity is a catalyst for human connection. The more we know, the more good we can do.
We believe that if you provide a platform for people to easily contribute to their communities – they will.
Our Team
Tony Vu
Tony Vu is a first-generation Vietnamese-American chef from Flint, MI. After a long stretch of traveling around the world, he returned to Michigan as a passionate advocate of food and its universal ability to transcend cultural differences. From Mom's cooking to running with street vendors and chef mentors in Southeast Asia, his life experiences are reflected in each dish he serves. This journey has led him to open Wraps n Rolls food truck, MaMang Vietnamese Noodle Bar, and now The Good Bowl.
Soon Hagerty
Soon Hagerty launched The Good Bowl based on her belief that business can and should be a force for good, coupled with her desire to introduce a growing global cuisine - Vietnamese - to the community. Born in Saigon, Vietnam, her family left as refugees, emigrated to the U.S. when she was five and all became U.S. citizens. She found success in PR and marketing, launching her first agency at 30. The Good Bowl is her way of “thanking the U.S.” for taking her family in and giving them the opportunity to achieve the American Dream. She is a foodie, avid student of brands, budding philanthropist, terrible skier, and shopaholic.
The Good Bowl Charity Model
As part of our mission-driven business model, The Good Bowl donates $1 to charity for each signature bowl sold.
HelpLink (Spark in the Dark)
Michigan-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that removes everyday barriers to employment by providing fast, direct assistance for urgent needs. Built from the peer-to-peer support network Spark in the Dark, HelpLink has helped connect over 100,000 needs since 2017. Through a secure, web-based platform, individuals can request help for essentials like car repairs, utility shutoffs, or work-related items. Once funded by employers, community members, or donors, HelpLink pays the bill or delivers the item directly—reducing absenteeism, job loss, and financial instability. Their work blends technology with compassion to create a transparent, efficient system of support for individuals and communities.
NAMI Grand Traverse
Local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness that provides hope, support, education, and advocacy for individuals living with mental health conditions and those who care for them. NAMI Grand Traverse works to increase understanding of mental illness, reduce stigma, and promote recovery through community education, peer support, and advocacy. They advocate at county, state, and national levels for equitable access to quality healthcare, housing, education, and employment, helping ensure that people with mental health conditions and their families are informed, supported, and not isolated.
Project Feed the Kids
Community-based nonprofit founded in 2020 to address childhood food insecurity, particularly during weekends when school meal programs are unavailable. What began with packing 81 meals during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic has grown into an effort that now provides more than 3,000 meals each weekend. Meals cost $2.50 to produce and are distributed through 24/7 community coolers that are open to anyone in need—no questions asked. Project Feed the Kids exists to ensure that children and families facing food insecurity have reliable access to nourishment when they need it most.
Past Charities
Every signature bowl sold adds up to real dollars for local, national, and global nonprofits—and we want you to see exactly how. Below you can download the full list of past awardees and the amounts donated. It’s our way of staying transparent and showing the impact our community creates, one meal at a time.
