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The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas announces first-ever “Nourish the Soul” Virtual Fundraising event to aid struggling hospitality industry

Austin, TX

The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas, a non-profit organization dedicated to the enrichment of Texas’ wine and food community, is hosting a new virtual fundraising event to support the struggling hospitality industry.

The virtual event, called “Nourish The Soul: A Hospitality Industry Benefit” will take place on October 22 and 23 and all proceeds will go to support hospitality professionals in need. Registration opens on Thursday, September 10.

The event is open to all, and free to attend (with options to upgrade), and will include an interactive chef demo, a virtual wine tasting, a silent auction and a live auction of many fine wine auction lots.

The Foundation has also appointed Denise Silverman, a veteran hospitality and event production professional, as the organization’s Executive Director. Silverman is responsible for the continued growth of the organization, day to day operations, oversight of events, marketing, membership, and philanthropy, as well as team leadership.

“The hospitality community has supported the Foundation for many years. Now it’s our turn to support them. We are pulling out all the stops to demonstrate the level of need, and raise as much money as possible,” said Silverman. “I’m incredibly excited to be leading the charge for the Wine & Food Foundation. I have a driven team and an engaged Board of Directors that is open to new ideas.”

Prior to joining the Foundation, Silverman served as Director of Sales & Marketing for Marquee Event Group, where she developed a sales management system, implemented customer retention programs, and hired and managed sales teams in two markets. Before Marquee, Denise served as Owner and General Manager for CLINK Events, an award-winning Event Production company based in Austin, TX. During her successful tenure there, she managed a team of sales and event professionals and led the company’s marketing efforts.

“We are thrilled to welcome Denise to the Wine & Food Foundation,” said Pat Conroy, President of the Board of Directors. “Her years of experience combined with her extensive relationships across the events industry made her the perfect choice for this position.”

Silverman is a well-known and highly respected veteran of the Central Texas event industry. Her 20+ years’ experience includes running day-to-day business operations, hiring/training team members, production and design for hundreds of events – including many non-profit galas, marketing, public relations, and five years of service on the Board of Directors – including a year as Board Chair – for another non-profit entity.

 

About The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas

The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas (WFFT) cultivates and invests in the wine and food community through education, appreciation, and enjoyment. To date, the Foundation has awarded more than $1.75 million to wine and culinary professionals and other worthy organizations through a dynamic grants program. WFFT is committed to providing direct financial support to sommeliers, chefs, and winemakers through scholarships, travel stipends, and professional development opportunities. To carry out this mission, WFFT hosts unrivaled, first-rate wine and food events, entertaining and educating members and the public in the enjoyment and excellence of wine and food, all while raising funds for the community. Please visit www.winefoodfoundation.org for more information. Connect with WFFT on Facebook (@winefoodfoundationtx) and Instagram (@winefoodfdn).