TOTCF grants $100,000 in support of four exceptional organizations that are making strides in bartender well-being and welfare
NEW ORLEANS, LA (October 3, 2023) — Tales of the Cocktail Foundation® (TOTCF) is pleased to announce the 2023 Grant Recipients: four exceptional organizations that were selected alongside The TOTCF’s Philanthropy & Development Committee through a thoughtful process that honors those who are making strides in bartender wellbeing and welfare. Recipients include A Sip of Paradise Community (Atlanta, Georgia), Equal Measures UK (London, UK), Giving Kitchen (Atlanta, Georgia) and Turning Tables (New Orleans, Louisiana). Presented with Remy-Cointreau and supported by Bulleit and Edrington, $100,000 will be distributed amongst the four grant recipients. In addition, TOTCF has pledged $10,000 to Another Round Another Rally’s LGBTQ+ Fund supporting the reopening of Club Q.
Chosen from a pool of individuals, organizations, or 501(c)3 non-profits that improve the lives of bartenders and hospitality workers, grantees were selected by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Philanthropy & Development Committee, who are key stakeholders with a passion for improving the industry. Applicants were thoroughly reviewed before the selection of the Finalists. The first annual Grant Finalist Showcase was held on Thursday, July 27 during Tales of the Cocktail in the Beyond the Bar space of the conference. Finalists were welcomed to discuss their grant proposal with the Tales of the Cocktail audience.
“Our Grant Program is at the heart of what we do,” said Lola Thomas, Program Director. “We are proud to invest in the organizations and individuals who are committed to changing and shaping this industry, and our focus on well-being for 2023 ensures that a positive impact is felt by the bartenders and hospitality workers that Tales of the Cocktail was founded to bring together.”
2023 TOTCF Grant Recipients
- A Sip of Paradise Garden ($20,000)
- A Sip of Paradise is a nonprofit bartenders’ community garden that provides horticultural therapy, employment resources, and health and wellness programs for bartenders and the greater hospitality community to recharge their minds, bodies and spirits.
- Equal Measures UK ($20,000)
- Equal Measures was founded to support marginalized groups and individuals and enrich possibilities for those from Black, Asian, and other minority ethnicities, as well as other marginalized groups, such as queer and genderqueer persons, those who are neurodivergent, or who face systemic barriers to their progression.
- Giving Kitchen ($20,000)
- Giving Kitchen assists food service workers and bartenders across the United States. They are a food service community meeting crisis with compassion and care. Their mission is to provide emergency assistance to food service workers through financial support and a network of community resources.
- Turning Tables ($40,000)
- Turning Tables is a bar training program that reflects the city they serve: New Orleans. Turning Tables advocates for equity in the hospitality industry for exposure in a system of support for the Black and Brown communities of New Orleans. Turning Tables is changing the face of hospitality by cultivating leadership and creating a model for equitable access to career pathways.
TOTCF Philanthropy & Development Initiative
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s grant-giving program aims to support emerging and existing organizations and individuals demonstrating a vision, determination, and ability to make meaningful change in the global hospitality industry across a spectrum of diverse topics. With the awarding of the 2023 grants, TOTCF has granted more than $450,000 in awards to those who are actively improving the global hospitality landscape.
In 2022, TOTCF’s Grants Committee formally changed to the Philanthropy & Development Committee with a targeted emphasis on creating initiatives to assist the hospitality industry post-pandemic and overall focus on bartender welfare and well-being.
Looking ahead, the 2024 Tales of the Cocktail Grant Submission Period will open in December 2023. Interested applicants are invited to view the Philanthropy & Development page on the Tales of the Cocktail website. For important information, key dates, the application process, and much more.
Philanthropy & Development Committee
2023 Philanthropy & Development Committee Co-Chairs:
- Eric Bennett, Owner of Continental Drift and Drift Kitchen; Birmingham, Alabama
- Kellie Thorn, Lead Mixologist for the Global Headquarters, Beam Suntory
Committee Members:
- Tiffanie Barriere, The Drinking Coach; Atlanta, Georgia
- Chris Cabrera, National LGBTQ+ Portfolio Ambassador, Bacardi; New York, New York
- Claudia Cabrera, Bar Manager and Co-founder, Kaito del Valle and Brand Ambassador, Fratelli Branca; Mexico City, Mexico
- Samuel Jimenez, General Manager, Casa del Toro; Hayward, California
- Nandini Khaund, Spirit Guide and Consultant; Chicago, Illinois
- Yisell Muxo, Director of Brand Advocacy, Don Q Rum; San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Lisa Nguyen, Director of Service Operations, CureCo; New Orleans, Louisiana
- Chris Patino, Owner Raised by Wolves, Founder Simple Serve, Organizer Bartenders Weekend; San Diego, California
- Vivian Pei, Co-Founder, Snacky Mini Mart, F&B Specialist; Iowa City, Iowa
- Kelsey Ramage, Co-founder, Black Lagoon Pop-Ups and Trash Collective; Toronto, Canada
- Morgan Schick, Principal, There There Co.; Portland, Oregon
TOTCF Philanthropy & Development Department
- Eileen Wayner, Chief Executive Officer, Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- Lola Thomas, Program Director, Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- Megan Stubbs, Program Manager, Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
To learn more about the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation Policy Initiative, please follow along via the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation website, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
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About Tales of the Cocktail Foundation:
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is a non-profit organization that works to Educate, Advance, and Support the global cocktail community. Founded in 2002, the organization has become the world’s leader in spirits education and a dynamic platform dedicated to addressing the challenges of today’s hospitality industry. TOTCF offers a spectrum of programs designed to enrich individuals and organizations, including the annual Tales of the Cocktail conference, which welcomes guests to Tales’ home city of New Orleans with nearly 400 unique, curated events. To learn more, visit talesofthecocktail.org.
Media Inquiries:
Foxglove Communications
Gia Vecchio, [email protected], 917.280.5043
Hunter Smith, [email protected], 803.397.8878
