Ben’s Friends Announces Launch of Atlanta Chapter
NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ben’s Friends Announces Launch of Atlanta Chapter
The organization provides support to food and beverage industry workers struggling with addiction
Atlanta, GA (April 9, 2021) – Ben’s Friends, a national support group for people in the hospitality industry struggling with addiction, is excited to announce its expansion into Atlanta. The first meeting will take place on Sunday, April 18 from 12:30 – 1:30 PM at Southern Belle Restaurant (1043 Ponce de Leon Ave). Meetings will be held at the same time and location every Sunday thereafter. The chapter will be led by Grant Hurless (Ghost Town Restaurants) and Mallory Hastings (Launderella), two longtime members of the Atlanta food and beverage industry who have found sobriety in recent years.
“Steve Palmer and I are humbled to have the opportunity to further expand Ben’s Friends to support restaurant professionals in Atlanta,” says Ben’s Friends Co-Founder Mickey Bakst. "As we expand into each new city, we are excited to see so many in our industry seeking a new way of living through sobriety."
Ben’s Friends was founded by Charleston, S.C.-based restaurateurs Steve Palmer and Mickey Bakst in honor of Ben Murray, a chef and colleague who took his own life after struggling with alcoholism. The organization exists to offer hope, fellowship, and a path forward for those struggling with substance abuse and addiction in an industry that has one of the highest rates of substance abuse in the country.
Ben’s Friends has chapters in 13 cities across the country, and after taking its meetings virtual during the COVID-19 pandemic, is beginning to return to in-person meetings in select cities. National Zoom meetings are still hosted weekly, as well as women- and men-only meetings. For more information on meeting locations and times, please visit the website, here.
For more information on the organization, visit www.bensfriendshope.com.
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About Ben’s Friends:
Ben’s Friends is a support group for members of the food and beverage industry struggling with substance abuse and addiction. The organization was founded in 2016 by industry veterans Steve Palmer and Mickey Bakst in honor of Ben Murray, a chef who took his own life after struggling with alcoholism. The mission of Ben’s Friends is to offer hope, fellowship, and a path forward to anyone who struggles with substance abuse or addiction. By coming together, starting a dialogue, and acknowledging that substance abuse cannot be overcome by isolation and willpower alone, Ben’s Friends hopes to write a new chapter in the lives of food and beverage professionals across the country.
MEDIA CONTACT:
SPROUTHOUSE
bensfriends@sprouthouseagency.com
Emily Wile
919.418.6449