THE WINE & FOOD FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES $45K DONATION TO SOUTHERN SMOKE – SUPPORTING HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS IN CRISIS
WFF’s Nourish The Soul Virtual Fundraiser also Channeled $24k in Business to Locally-Owned Austin Restaurants
Austin, TX
The Wine & Food Foundation (WFF), a non-profit organization dedicated to the enrichment of Texas’ wine and food community, proudly announces a donation of $45,130 to Southern Smoke, a national crisis relief organization for people in the food and beverage industry.
The donation is a direct result of WFF’s virtual fall fundraiser, “Nourish The Soul – A Hospitality Industry Benefit,” whose goal was to deliver urgently needed support and relief to food and beverage professionals affected by widespread closures and layoffs from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
WFF also partnered with five local, independently-owned Austin restaurants to supply meals to Nourish the Soul event guests, providing more than $24,000 in business to restaurant partners including McGuire Moorman Hospitality (Jeffrey’s, Perla’s, Clark’s Oyster Bar, Swedish Hill), Emmer & Rye, L’Oca d’Oro, Parkside, and Comedor.
“Our organization and our community are incredibly proud to provide urgently needed support for food and beverage professionals in crisis, and the Foundation was thrilled to be able to patronize five of Austin’s favorite local restaurants in the process,” said Denise Silverman, Executive Director, Wine & Food Foundation. “Between the generosity of the Foundation’s community and the support systems provided by Southern Smoke, food and beverage professionals are receiving the assistance they deserve during this unprecedented time of hardship.”
Founded in 2015, Southern Smoke has donated more than $5.7 million to food and beverage professionals that have been affected by illness, natural disasters, and now, COVID-19. The Wine & Food Foundation made a $25,000 donation to the organization earlier this year, which makes a total of $70k in support in 2020.
“We are so grateful to the Wine & Food Foundation for supporting Southern Smoke throughout this difficult year. The Foundation has donated $70,000 to us in 2020, and those funds are directly supporting food and beverage professionals in crisis due to COVID-19,” said Chris Shepherd, Founder, Southern Smoke. “The Foundation’s Nourish the Soul event not only raised money for a great cause, but it helped to remind the public just how devastating this crisis continues to be for food and beverage professionals.”
About Wine & Food Foundation
The Wine & Food Foundation (WFF) cultivates and invests in the wine and food community through education, appreciation, and enjoyment. Through cutting edge programming and a robust membership program, the foundation aims to engage a community of wine-lovers and foodies. WFF hosts unrivaled wine and food events, all while raising funds for the community. To date, the Foundation has awarded more than $1.5 million in grants, scholarships, education and hospitality industry support. Please visit www.winefoodfoundation.orgfor more information. Connect with WFF on Facebook (@winefoodfdn) and Instagram (@winefoodfdn).
