Fifth Group Restaurants Raises $124K for Hunger Walk Run

Fifth Group Restaurants, the esteemed Atlanta group behind South City Kitchen, La Tavola Trattoria, Ecco, The Original El Taco, Alma Cocina, Lure and award-winning events company Bold Catering & Design, raised $124,506 for the 36th annual Hunger Walk Run. Proceeds from the walk and run benefit the Atlanta Community Food Bank and other food assistance nonprofits such as Episcopal Community Foundation for Middle and North Georgia, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Inspiritius and St. Vincent de Paul Society, Inc. Fifth Group’s six-figure donation is the highest amount the company has raised over the past 12 years of participating. 

“With coronavirus’ incredibly devastating impact on the Georgia economy, it’s more important than ever to support local food banks. The Atlanta Community Food Bank is working diligently to keep families throughout North Georgia fed, so we feel honored to make this donation in the midst of the crisis,” says Robby Kukler, Fifth Group Restaurants founding partner and Chairman of the food bank’s Board of Directors. “We are also immensely appreciative of the food bank’s hand in helping us feed our staff in this time of need. The organization supplied fresh produce and shelf stable items for our mobile food pantry that provided 6,000 meals for our Fifth Group family.”

The Hunger Walk Run was supposed to have taken place on March 15, 2020 but was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Despite the cancellation, Fifth Group was able to make the contribution from fundraising efforts that took place in February and March. Each restaurant encouraged guests to donate following their meals, and anyone was able to contribute to the Fifth Group team on the Hunger Walk Run website. Fifth Group leadership and restaurant team members made personal donations in excess of $17,000. 

Fifth Group began its corporate support of the Hunger Walk Run in 2008 and, in conjunction with the Food Bank, spearheaded the event’s Restaurant Program, encouraging Atlanta’s hospitality community to join the fundraising and awareness efforts. Since beginning its relationship with the Hunger Walk Run, the restaurant group has now raised more than $725,000 for the cause, resulting in nearly 2.9 million meals. The money raised by the hospitality group in 2020 alone will provide approximately 500,000 meals for families in Georgia. Fifth Group continues to be named the event’s largest corporate donor, ahead of an impressive group of corporate participants, which include some of the city’s largest and most notable companies.

"We are so grateful for the fundraising efforts of Fifth Group Restaurants," adds Kyle Waide, president and CEO of Atlanta Community Food Bank. "While Georgians across the state are struggling with school and childcare closures, lost wages, and layoffs, the demand for the food bank's services has increased at least 30 percent percent since the onset of the pandemic. With support from amazing organizations like Fifth Group Restaurants, we can provide essential meals to hungry Georgians during these times of uncertainty."

The Hunger Walk Run is the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s largest fundraiser, aiming to raise awareness around local food insecurity and raise critical dollars for hunger relief benefits organizations that operate and support hundreds of food pantries, shelters, community kitchens, senior centers and child care centers across metro Atlanta and north Georgia. Participants and donors are empowered to support the charity of their choice, thus tailoring giving to specific interests while contributing to broader, community-wide hunger relief efforts. Funds from this year’s Hunger Walk Run will also support the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s efforts to provide food assistance amid the coronavirus pandemic through special mobile distributions, partnering with schools to feed families in need and other timely initiatives. You can read more about the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s response to the crisis at http://acfb.org/covid-19-response.