Our People + Partners
The proverbial cooks
Sysco
Sysco’s partnership with Southern Smoke Foundation goes far beyond the kitchen. As presenting supporter of the Southern Smoke Festival, Sysco helps make our largest annual fundraiser possible — fueling the event that sustains our work year-round. Their commitment also extends to times of greatest need, supporting our emergency relief efforts and standing with us when natural disasters strike. Together, we’re making sure food and beverage workers have the resources they need to recover, rebuild, and keep doing what they love.
Resy
American Express and Resy know restaurants and the unflinching hard work that F+B workers get done daily. They supported Southern Smoke first through the December 2021 Resy Cookie Box, including cookies made from recipes by acclaimed chefs across America. Then in March 2022, the entities once again teamed up for the Let’s Grab a Table campaign. After Americans made 1 million reservations on Resy to start March, AMEX and Resy donated $500,000 to Southern Smoke. Resy is a longtime supporter of the Southern Smoke Festival and continues to support the organization through the annual Resy Cookie Box.
Lexus
Lexus has been an outstanding partner of Southern Smoke. Our founder, chef Chris Shepherd, is a Lexus Chef and has taken part in the company’s culinary events. Meanwhile, Lexus has been a critical part of our Southern Smoke Festival, sponsoring an area for VIP guests and supporting F+B workers nationwide through their generosity. Lexus was the presenting sponsor of the inaugural 2024 Southern Smoke Decanted wine auction.
Yeti
Southern Smoke and YETI make a great team. The Austin-based manufacturer has supported the mission to #TakeCareofOurOwn for years. In 2020 it named Southern Smoke as a charity beneficiary for its annual film tour, and it regularly puts their might behind the foundation’s Emergency Relief Fund. YETI was the presenting sponsor of Southern Smoke Festival 2022 and 2023 and will present the Yeti Culinary Stage at the 2024 Southern Smoke Festival.
Alaska Seafood
Southern Smoke was honored to name Alaska Seafood a presenting sponsor of its 2022, 2023, and 2024 Southern Smoke Festival, and we were privileged to showcase Alaska Seafood’s fresh, wild-caught seafood at the festival. Plus, Alaska Seafood is a dedicated supporter of Southern Smoke’s Emergency Relief Fund, backing our mission to lift F+B workers out from crisis nationwide.
Tito’s Handmade Vodka / Love, Tito’s
Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Southern Smoke go back a long way. They were one of the first to lift us up during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing us to increase the help we could give to food and beverage workers hit hard by the ongoing crisis. Its charitable foundation Love, Tito’s has been a dedicated supporter of Behind You, our program offering accessibility to mental health services to F+B workers nationwide.
MML Hospitality
McGuire Moorman Lambert Hospitality, which operates more than a dozen restaurants in Austin, as well as properties in Houston, Aspen, New Orleans, and soon in California, is an annual supporter of Southern Smoke and its mission to provide emergency relief and access to no-cost mental health counseling to those in the F+B industry.
Pat Martin Investments
Pat Martin Investments is an annual supporter of Southern Smoke and its mission to provide emergency relief and access to no-cost mental health counseling to those in the F+B industry.
Foxglove Communications
Foxglove Communications provides ongoing public relations support for Southern Smoke, sharing the organization’s mission as well as event support and publicity.
Elijah Craig
Through Old Fashioned Week and beyond, Elijah Craig raises the glass — and raises funds — for Southern Smoke every year. Their events fuel our ability to support food and beverage workers in crisis, making a lasting impact on the industry we love.
Pappas Restaurants
Pappas Restaurants is an annual supporter of Southern Smoke and its mission to provide emergency relief and access to no-cost mental health counseling to those in the F+B industry.
The Indigo Road Hospitality Group
The Indigo Road Hospitality Group, which operates restaurants and hotels across the South, is an annual supporter of Southern Smoke and its mission to provide emergency relief and access to no-cost mental health counseling to those in the F+B industry.
Fort Worth Food & Wine Foundation
Fort Worth Food & Wine Foundation supports Southern Smoke’s efforts in the DFW region, both financially and by spreading awareness of Southern Smoke’s resources to their constituents in the F+B industry.
OTG
OTG is an annual supporter of Southern Smoke and its mission to provide emergency relief and access to no-cost mental health counseling to those in the F+B industry.
For sponsorship information, please contact Caroline Nabors at caroline@southernsmoke.org.
To every person who has ever helped keep our fellow F+B workers—and their families—afloat, thank you.
Your generosity directly impacts our industry, oftentimes by allowing your neighbors to keep the lights on, afford life-saving medications, or simply buy basic necessities like clothing. Without you, none of this would be possible. We’re so happy to have you with us.