Behind You Classic Golf Tournament
In the Field
Behind You Classic Golf Tournament
Southern Smoke Foundation (SSF) announced that its Behind You Classic golf tournament will return to MacGregor Downs Country Club in Cary on May 4, 2026, raising critical funds for SSF’s Behind You mental health program and its future expansion into North Carolina. Tickets are now on sale HERE.
The Behind You Classic, hosted by Sam Ratto, founder of Videri Chocolate Factory; Matt Fern, owner of Ish Delicatessen; and Adam Cunningham, owner and pitmaster of Longleaf Swine; raised $26,500 in its inaugural 2025 tournament. The 2026 event is expected to grow significantly, with organizers planning for 120 players across 30 teams of four.
Through SSF’s Behind You mental health program, eligible food and beverage workers in North Carolina will have access to 20 no-cost, evidence-based counseling sessions provided by graduate-level clinicians under licensed supervision through a university affiliate model. Services will be available via telehealth and in-person, providing flexibility for industry workers’ demanding schedules. The university partner in North Carolina has not been announced, and Southern Smoke Foundation projects a September 2026 launch date.
SSF’s Behind You program addresses a critical gap in mental health care access for food and beverage workers across the country. In 2025, 58% of Behind You clients received counseling for the first time, or returned after more than five years due to barriers including cost, limited clinician availability, and time constraints.
Behind You services are currently available in California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia, as well as Washington, D.C.
The Behind You Classic features sponsorship opportunities at different levels. Registration details and sponsorship information are available HERE.
Food and beverage workers in North Carolina interested in accessing Behind You services beginning in September 2026 can apply at southernsmoke.org/mental-health.
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