Fort Worth Food + Wine Foundation Announces Strategic Partnership

The Fort Worth Food + Wine Foundation (FWFWF), an organization dedicated to celebrating and supporting the vibrant North Texas culinary community, is thrilled to announce today a new partnership with Southern Smoke Foundation (SSF), a renowned nationwide nonprofit founded by James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Shepherd and dedicated to helping food and beverage (F+B) workers in crisis by providing emergency relief funds and access to no-cost mental health services.

Thanks to the generosity of the FWFWF supporters and festival goers the newly forged collaboration will launch this month with a $25,000 gift from the foundation to SSF. These funds are available to culinary industry workers needing emergency relief across Tarrant County. This partnership and direct gift is a continuation of FWFWF’s pivotal and on-going response to support local culinary professionals in need of emergency aid in response to the recent worldwide financial and health crises.

Chris Shepherd at Southern Smoke Festival
photo credit: Catchlight Photography

When asked about the partnership, Fort Worth Food + Wine Foundation’s Co-Founder Russell Kirkpatrick said, “Individual financial emergency support is crucial for workers in an industry who often find themselves without a safety net. We initially started our Emergency Relief Fund program in response to COVID-19 in 2020. Now, nearly four years later, the foundation has realized the need continues for ongoing emergency response and so much more!”

Southern Smoke Festival 2023; photo courtesy of SSF

Kirkpatrick continued, “Our team is working to refocus our efforts on the funding for restaurant growth and innovation and expansion of chef festival participation. This new partnership with Southern Smoke Foundation allows us to connect national resources with our local community to ensure that chefs, restaurateurs, and beverage workers in our county are getting access to year-round, immediate support. FWFWF will continue to raise funds locally and be good stewards of those generous donations and ensure they stay in our neighborhood.”