Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) and Grey Goose are pleased to announce the first ever “Great Bar Race Inclusion and Representation Grants,” (Great Bar Race Grants), which are situated within the Foundation’s Grants Program. The collaborative grants were born
out of TOTCF and Grey Goose’s shared passion for promoting equity, inclusion, and representation in the spirits industry. Today, these brands are pleased to name Made in New Orleans Foundation (MiNO) and Turning Tables as the well-deserving recipients of these grants. Each organization is receiving $12,500 and the ongoing support of The Foundation’s Grants Advisory Committee to carry out their DEI initiatives.
With its Grants Program, Tales of the Cocktail Foundation aims to support nascent or existing programs, non-profit organizations, and individuals developing a specific project that will impact the global hospitality community present day and beyond. For these specific grants, the recipients’ submissions needed to support TOTCF’s core mission of Educating, Supporting, and Advancing the global spirits industry specifically through the lens of furthering representation and inclusivity. An overwhelming number of submissions were received and evaluated by TOTCF’s Grants Advisory Committee to determine the two recipients for 2020.
Made in New Orleans Foundation (MiNO), is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that envisions a New Orleans hospitality industry that leads the world in growing, supporting, and financing the success of BIPOC. Using a multidisciplinary approach to address, ameliorate, and eliminate disparities facing hospitality professionals of color, MiNO provides educational resources, individual mentorship and scholarships, and business coaching. At the industry level, the organization amplifies the voices of professionals of color and provides support to hospitality companies that are seeking to eliminate bias and disparities in their organizations. MiNO will use their grant to fund their “Equity Program” which
provides practical tools to create unified and equitable workspaces. The program assesses practices that may leave bars and restaurants weak to biases that create barriers for people of color and the business. The eight-month program provides customized solutions to improve business and drive growth for management, staff, and patrons.
“We are so deeply thankful for the support of Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. We are so excited to launch this partnership and create a meaningful impact in the hospitality industry in New Orleans. Because of this grant, MiNO, will be able to forge ahead, especially during this time, this gift means so much more than right now, it contributes to the future we are building together,” said Lauren Darnell, Executive Director of MiNO.
Turning Tables advocates for diversity, visibility, and inclusivity in the hospitality industry, specifically for underserved and underrepresented communities of New Orleans. Their vision is to change the face of hospitality by creating a model for equitable access to career pathways through hands-on training, mentorship, industry exposure, and wrap-around support services. Turning Tables will apply their funding to their “Fellowship Program” and to further their mission which advocates for equity in the hospitality industry by providing mentorship, educational tools, and platforms to support and sustain the Black and Brown communities of New Orleans.
“This industry is extremely resilient and if there is anything I have learned from this past year, Is that the model is changing, but we show up and support one another. The one thing that is certain is that we will be a part of that change and continue to create leaders that will be a valuable asset moving forward. We want to continue to be a bright light and model for all the places we can go and all of the places we can to be a force in creating a more equitable industry,” shared Touré Folkes, Executive Director and CEO of Turning Tables.
“It has been an absolute honor to work with Grey Goose on grants that are core to our mission as a Foundation,” said Caroline Rosen, President of Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. “I have long admired the ways in which Grey Goose has championed representation and inclusivity for our industry and could not think of two better recipients for these grants.”
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s collaboration with Grey Goose over the past year has been more than the epic bartender challenge known as “The Great Bar Race.” While the relay-style bartender challenge spotlighted bar teams and their ability to work together, it also showcased the diversity within them.
During The Foundation’s 2020 Grant Submission Period, the organization issued a call to action for the public to submit projects they’ve been working on that advocate for change and awareness around social justice issues.
“The Great Bar Race was designed to bring together and celebrate the best in hospitality, while spotlighting the local initiatives that are working to unite the industry in pursuit of diversity and inclusion.
We, along with Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, are thrilled to support two commendable organizations in making an impact in their communities,” said Aleco Azqueta, Vice President North America of GREY GOOSE.
