The Business Behind Gervais Street Bridge Dinner

Planning and executing a 1,000-person dinner isn’t something to be taken lightly. Conveying the purpose of the dinner event can be equally as challenging. The good news is Soda City Friends, the nonprofit behind the fourth annual Gervais Street Bridge Dinner, gets by with a little help from their friends.

The Gervais Street Bridge Dinner has become a marquee celebration of the Columbia region, drawing some much needed attention to the Congaree River and its vital importance to our area’s ecosystem.

In its first three years, the bridge dinner raised over $125,000 for local charities with particular focus on those organizations working to improve the health and wealth of our protected rivers. This year, all proceeds benefit The River Alliance, Canoeing for Kids, The West Columbia Beautification Foundation, Harvest Hope, and Serve & Connect.

Bringing more awareness to the river and creating a greater sense of care for the river are the following event sponsors: Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Motor Supply, Southern Way Catering, Estates & Companies, Ally & Eloise Bakeshop, Performance Food Group in Florence South Carolina, Central Carolina Community Foundation, Professional Printers, University of South Carolina Bliss Massage Therapy LLC, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Experience Columbia SC, Gardener’s Outpost, Mast General Store, Synovus – NBSC Bank, BMW of Columbia, RNDC, Samuel L. Westerman Foundation, Samuels Law Firm, The State Newspaper, Paddy Irish Whiskey, John Barr Whisky, Casa Noble Tequila, Malfy Gin, Elijah Craig, Imagery Estate Winery, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, STOLEN Spirits, Benzinger Winery, and Columbia Craft Brewing Company.

Without these local businesses sharing their passion for the Columbia community, the 2018 Gervais Street Bridge Dinner would see far less reach, engagement, and impact.

From brainstorming fresh event ideas to supplying water for attendees, Nephron Pharmaceuticals have been involved in every step of the planning process. The passion that Lou Kennedy and her team exhibit are unmatched and contagious, to say the least. If anything, the time and effort Nephron Pharmaceuticals puts forth inspires other organizations and individuals to get involved.

Motor Supply, continues to create drinks from scratch using locally-sourced ingredients for the largest cocktail party in South Carolina. In collaboration with RNDC the specialty drinks solidify the event’s joyful atmosphere and encourage attendees to mix and mingle.

Southern Way Catering remains relentless in their pursuit of surprising and delighting everyone’s taste buds. This year, guests can expect a few new menu items (hint: one is cheesy). The food helps set the table for conversations about change and development.

Meanwhile, sponsor Estates & Companies encourages listening during these meaningful dinner conversations. West Columbia’s Brookland Development is a perfect example of community members helping bridge the gap between city living and river chilling by listening to and executing the demands and desires of residents.

Soda City Friends is the charitable arm of Soda City and is a registered 501(C)3. All donations are tax-deductible. In seven short years, Soda City Friends has raised over $325,000 through the annual Mardi Gras Columbia and Gervais Street Bridge Dinner events. Beneficiaries of these events include The River Alliance, Canoeing for Kids, West Columbia Beautification Foundation, Harvest Hope Food Bank, Heroes In Blue, Congaree Riverkeeper, and The Animal Mission of the Midlands.