OUR STORY

 

In 1999, Elizabeth Bookholz didn’t feel well and left work early at The Witches Brew on Derby Street in Salem, MA. The doctors discovered she had a serious and rare disease and she was immediately hospitalized. Due to the unexpected costs of her medical treatment, her friends and colleagues planned a fundraiser to try and raise money for her bills while she was unable to work. Tragically, Elizabeth passed away the night of the fundraiser was being held. Money raised that evening and from any subsequent fundraisers was used to create the Elizabeth Bookholz Memorial Fund to support individuals working in Salem-based restaurants.

 

 

In 2018, the Elizabeth Bookholz Memorial Fund became Behind You with a mission to provide financial assistance to food service employees who are unable to work due to illness or injury. Our goal is to have the backs of food service industry employees in times of need. Behind You is a needs-based emergency assistance fund designed to support employees when they have a medical hardship and are unable to work for at least four (4) weeks. Behind You defines eligible employers as restaurants that serve food, catering companies, food trucks or concessions and taprooms, cafes, and bars. At this time, similar establishments that do not qualify for financial assistance according to Behind You’s guidelines include retail establishments that serve food (such as grocery stores or gas stations), meal prep, home meal delivery companies, third-party food delivery, and non-commercial cafeterias such as schools, hospitals, prisons, and retirement homes.

 

 

In 2020, the fund became Behind You and expanded its reach to include individuals that live or work in Beverly, Lynn, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem, and/or Swampscott. It is the goal of Behind You to continue to grow to serve the food service industry throughout the region. We hope you’ll join us.