Buckhead Life Restaurant Group’s main philanthropic focus has long been the fight against hunger. The company has dedicated countless hours to hunger-based organizations on both the local and national level. Pano Karatassos was a pioneer in developing Atlanta’s Table, the country’s first freshly prepared food program for the hungry. In 2001, BLRG won the Metropolitan Atlanta Corporate Volunteerism Council’s IMPACT award for its involvement with this program and the March of Dimes awarded Karatassos the Culinary Salute Award for his distinguished leadership and devoted service in the Atlanta community.

For 16 years, Pano Karatassos has served as the Atlanta chairperson for Share Our Strength’s (SOS) annual Taste of the Nation fundraiser. Pano, his Buckhead Life Family and the entire hospitality industry in Atlanta are key contributors to the success of this elegant black tie gala, which raises funds to end the causes and consequences of hunger and poverty. Locally, the event benefits Atlanta’s Table and the Atlanta Food Bank, Project Open Hand and Genesis Shelter. Since its inception in Atlanta, the SOS Taste of the Nation has raised over $5.5 million dollars. Since 1989, Pano and his Atlanta team have raised more money than any other city in the United States.

In addition, Buckhead Life Restaurant Group is an active supporter of the Shepard Spinal Center’s fundraising initiatives such as Derby Day and the Bernie and Billie Marcus Golf Classic. As a company, we also support March of Dimes’ Dining Out fundraiser, the High Museum’s Wine Auction, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Q100 Radio’s Bert’s Big Adventure, a program that takes terminally ill children and their families to Disney World.