Houston Chef Chris Shepherd achieved success and fame with his Underbelly Hospitality Group of restaurants. In 2015 when a friend and restaurant colleague diagnosed with multiple sclerosis asked for his help to host a fundraiser for the MS Society, the seeds of Shepherd's non-profit Southern Smoke Foundation (SSF) were planted to help food and beverage industry workers in need. SSF provides workers direct emergency relief direct and mental health resources. southernsmoke.org

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