Over $1,000,000 raised to date by the Southern Smoke Festival with sound and lighting support from LD Systems
LD Systems is a Southern Smoke Community Partner Sponsor and provides sound and lighting support for the annual Southern Smoke Festival which is a short 3 years has already raised over $1,000,000.
Southern Smoke is a nonprofit 501c3 foundation created to raise funds for charitable purposes, principally for support and assistance for those in the food and beverage community and their suppliers.
Chris Shepherd launched Southern Smoke in 2015 after learning his friend and former sommelier Antonio Gianola was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Southern Smoke has raised $454,000 for the MS Society, making it the largest third-party fundraiser in a five-state area.
Last year, Southern Smoke shifted its focus to provide assistance to people in the food and beverage industry affected by Hurricane Harvey and donated $501,000 to 139 people in need. To date, Southern Smoke has donated $984,000—both directly to people in need or to organizations that represent the needs of people in our industry. As Chris says, Southern Smoke was created to “take care of our own.”
This year, the proceeds of the 2018 Southern Smoke Festival will once again benefit the MS Society with a goal of donating $300,000 in honor of Antonio. Additionally, the Southern Smoke Foundation has expanded to include a year-round Emergency Relief Fund for people in the food and beverage industry, inspired by the success of last year’s Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.
LD Systems is proud to join the Southern Smoke creed “take care of our own.” and help serve the Houston community.