Berg Hospitality Raises $100K for Hourly Staff & Extends Healthcare Coverage

RESTAURATEUR BEN BERG CREATES INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO SUPPORT EMPLOYEES
DURING COVID CRISIS

Berg Hospitality Group, a Texas-based restaurant group committed to creating unique concepts offering excellent service and distinct atmospheres, has raised and distributed over $100,000 to its unemployed hourly staff and extended their healthcare coverage through May.

An industry veteran and CEO and Founder of Berg Hospitality Group, Benjamin Berg never imagined he would be forced into a mandated position to temporarily close all his restaurants. After being incapable of providing continued financial support to his more than 300 hourly employees in Houston and Fort Worth, he knew he needed to call on help from both communities. Many of their loyal guests and local charities to which the hospitality group had supported through financial and food donations over the years, kept asking, "How can we help you?" Berg, along with his corporate staff and managers, came up with the idea of hosting a drive-thru BBQ fundraiser at B&B Butchers & Restaurant in Houston and Fort Worth. For three weekends in a row, both locations of the famed steakhouse hosted the drive-thru fundraiser where guests were invited to stop by the parking lot to purchase food to bring home to their family, without getting out of the car. A variety of smoked meats, side dishes and dessert were available to purchase, which were prepared as a group effort by all Berg Hospitality Group chefs, including the iconic chef Robert Del Grande of The Annie Café & Bar. 100 percent of the profits went to the hourly employees. And for those who couldn't make it or didn't want to leave their house? A Berg Hospitality Family Relief Fund was created through GoFundMe where people in both Houston and Fort Worth could donate in support of the team members. 100 percent of the funds raised went to the hourly employees.

"Words cannot express how grateful I am to our loyal guests, friends and family who supported us through donations, BBQ orders and tips, allowing us to raise and distribute over $100,000 to our hourly employees. In addition, because of the support we have received through take-out and delivery orders, it put us in a position to continue to provide healthcare coverage for these employees through May," says Berg. "Our incredibly talented, hard-working hourly staff are the heart and soul of our company who cherish the opportunities to create special and lasting memories for our guests. While this is extremely unfortunate for restaurants all over the world, I know that we have some of the greatest restaurateurs, chefs and overall staff in both Houston and Fort Worth, and we will come back stronger than before."

Over the past few weeks, Berg Hospitality also partnered with Vitol Inc. to provide 250 meals a day to the staff at Houston Methodist Hospital for 7 days, and the A+C Foundation on its Project Frontline to donate 300 meals to Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital. 

"Because the community has been so kind to us during this time, we also wanted an opportunity to give back. Our company is so thankful for the amazing staff at both hospitals, and all healthcare workers across the country, for being on the front lines, working tirelessly to keep us safe and healthy," said Berg.