About Us
The Mike & Sherry Project was created in 2019 with the mission to provide accessible mental health care to individuals working in the Austin restaurant and bar industry in partnership with Capital Area Counseling (CAC), a psychotherapy center providing affordable, accessible, high-quality mental health services to all Central Texans. CAC is offering low-cost tele-therapy services to members of the Austin bar and restaurant industry, regardless of employment status due dining room closures with help from the fundraising efforts of the Mike & Sherry Project. Pricing is determined by an income-based sliding scale with appointments as low as $15. Funds raised by the Project go towards helping bridge the gap if the bar and restaurant workers are unable to make the fee and to supporting CAC staff. To date, the Project has raised over $111,000 for accessible mental healthcare and seen over 6,400 appointments.
The Project was started by Sam Hellman-Mass, restaurant industry veteran and owner of east Austin favorite Suerte. During his time in the industry, he saw his co-workers and staff go through personal hardship and saw a need for affordable and accessible mental healthcare.
He named the project after Mike Shefman and Sherry Greenberg, who are staples in the local food scene and have become an integral and invested part of the Austin community. He met the couple when he was working at Barley Swine and was instantly inspired by their kindness, good nature and sense of humor. Sherry is known to deliver brownies to the staff at restaurants around town, whether she’s dining or not. Sam noticed that everyone who got to know them quickly began to feel like part of their family.
Founding Restaurants
Suerte
Epicerie
El Dorado Cafe
L’Oca D’Oro
FBR Management
Franklin Barbecue
Odd Duck
Barley Swine
Bufalina
Olamaie
Sour Duck
Partners
Suerte |
Épicerie |
Eldorado Café |
L’Oca d’Oro |
Franklin Barbecue |
Odd Duck |
Sour Duck |
Barley Swine |
Bufalina |
Bufalina Due |
Olamaie |
FBR MGMT: |
Lavaca – Downtown |
Lavaca – Domain |
Lavaca – South Lamar |
Lalas |
The Wheel |
MEC |
Star Bar |
Dumonts |
Stagger Lee |
Gibson |
Dive Bar |
Black Star Co-op |
| Drink Well |
Salt & Time |
Juliet Italian Kitchen: |
Barton Springs Location |
Arboretum Location |
Commerce Café |
Foreign & Domestic |
Hillside Farmacy |
Baby Greens |
Yard Bar |
The Cavalier |
Brentwood Social House |
Chez Zee American Bistro |
Dai Due |
WIP Hospitality: |
24 Diner |
Irene’s |
Cookbook Café |
Honeymoon ATX |
Patrizi's |
Genuine Article |
Kome Sushi |
| The Roosevelt Room & The Eleanor |
| Easy Tiger |
| The Peached Tortilla: |
| Bar Peached |
| Peached Social House |
| Fat City Stacks |
| Casey's Snoballs |
| Vic & Al's |
| Vista Brewing |
| Patika |
| Holiday |
Advisory Team
-
Mike Shefman and Sherry Greenberg
-
Sam Hellman-Mass
Owner, Suerte -
Jerry Webberman
Jackson Walker LLP -
Valerie Granoff
LCSW, psychotherapist -
Jaime Telfeyan, LPC-S, NCC
Capital Area Counseling -
Doc Davis, LPC, NCC
Capital Area Counseling -
Kathleen Lucente
President, Red Fan Communications -
Matt Luckie
FBR Management -
Sarah McIntosh
Épiecerie