The FWFWF is more than a good time – it’s a good cause. That’s because proceeds from the festival go to the Fort Worth Food + Wine Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises funds for local grant programs and culinary scholarships. To date, the Foundation raised more than $325,000 for grants and scholarships supporting deserving culinary students from Fort Worth. 

Mission Statement

Honor the distinctive nature of Fort Worth cooking, food, beverage, and culinary traditions by promoting national and regional attention to the Fort Worth scene and assisting and sustaining chefs, restaurants, and the local ranching and farming communities to raise funds for local grant programs and culinary scholarships; to elevate the skills and culinary knowledge of the general consumer; and to provide internship experiences for those interested in pursuing a career in public relations or marketing.

Foundation Board of Directors

Richard King | Board Chair

Russell Kirkpatrick | Chair Emeritus, Chair, Chef Committee

Jacob Ferguson | Chair, Finance Committee

Micheline Hynes | Chair, Philanthropy Committee

Melissa M. Mitchell | Chair, Governance & Nominations Committee

Warren Prescott | Chair, Beverage Committee

Crystal Vastine | Chair, Marketing Committee

June Naylor 

Jeremy Byrd 

Michele Soriano

Mitch Whitten

Restaurant Employee Relief Fund

Restaurant owners or general managers may apply for funds to help employees who are experiencing extreme hardship as a result of the current COVID-19 crisis. Funds of up to $500 per employee are available. To be eligible, the owner or GM of the business that is applying on behalf of employee(s) must:

• Have either participated in the 2019 Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival (FWFWF) or was registered to participate in 2020 FWFWF, or be either a locally owned and operated restaurant group or an independent restaurant in Tarrant County.
• Have recently had a public health related layoff, furlough or business slowdown.
• Demonstrate need based on extreme hardship in addition to public health related closures/slowdowns.

Apply for Funds

Annual Career Conference

The Fort Worth Food + Wine Foundation hosts the CRAFT Conference that gathers the foodie community’s brightest stars to help hundreds of local high school students explore their career options, expand their knowledge and increase their chances for culinary career success.