Its venues are among the hottest and most desired destinations for food, drink, and nightlife.
Impeccably dressed-to-the-nines crowds fill SHIV Supper Club steakhouse, while Cake Nightclub has become the go-to spot for celebrities, socialites, and A-listers. Sexy clubgoers can be seen sipping, dancing, and loving life at Maya Dayclub and Riot House, and lines of live music and rock-and-roll fans spool around the block waiting for a spot at Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row.
At Farm & Craft, hungry patrons get satiated with sustainable dishes made with responsibly sourced ingredients and meticulously handcrafted cocktails. Visitors enjoy fast-casual dining by day and full service in the evening, making Farm & Craft the go-to health alternative that fits every diner’s style. Meanwhile, Hand Cut Chophouse delivers a promise on every plate. There is always a perfect pairing for a meal with a full mixology bar, local draft beers, and a world-class wine list to enjoy in this high-energy and trendy, design-oriented ambiance, ensuring an unforgettable dining experience.
Riot Hospitality Group has established a flashy and bold presence with high-profile and crowd-drawing concepts that call Scottsdale, Gilbert, Denver, and Nashville home. In addition to the aforementioned entertainment hubs, Riot Hospitality is responsible for the equally buzzy El Hefe and The District.
But it’s also got a quieter side that operates a bit under the radar yet has created an equally powerful impact for countless individuals, families, and organizations in need.
Thanks to Riot Gives Back, the philanthropic arm of the hospitality empire, more than 200 nonprofits have been benefactors in the communities it operates in since Riot Hospitality Group CEO Ryan Hibbert launched it in 2022.
“It says a lot about a company when you can start a foundation,” says Lissa Druss, executive director for Riot Gives Back. “The ability to start a foundation and support these groups that mean so much to us is very special.”
Through silent auction items, financial donations, and other efforts, the foundation has been able to support causes including Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Make-A-Wish Arizona, American Legion Post 39 in Gilbert, Scottsdale Police Foundation, Scottsdale Firefighters Behind the Flames Charity Dinner, and many more.
Two annual marquee events provide the resources that make the giving possible—the popular Riot Gives Back Golf Classic and Rock The Rooftop, held at the W Scottsdale hotel.
About to enter its fourth year in 2026, Rock the Rooftop brings together community leaders, philanthropists, and music enthusiasts to support the foundation and Make-a-Wish Arizona. Performances by some of the music industry’s most promising up-and-coming artists fuel this event, which raised $50,000 in January.
Riot Hospitality’s history of giving was the inspiration for the foundation long before it was started.
The company had been supporting many charitable organizations since it was founded in 2010. The generosity grew year by year as more causes appeared on Riot’s radar. And with the phenomenal success of its venues and overall growth of the company, Hibbert and his team were always more than happy to oblige.
When Hibbert realized the impact Riot was having on those in need, he wanted to take it a step further by making the giving more official and defined.
“The foundation was launched to have structure, a road map, a plan,” Druss says.
This sparked not only Riot Gives Back, but also the creation of its Pillars of Impact, which defines the three main groups that are recipients of the foundation’s efforts: First responders; military servicemembers and veterans and their families; and the compassionate care of children.
“Throughout the company’s lifespan, we’ve always been generous and connected to these communities,” Druss says.
But the relationship between the foundation and the communities they help is not one way. There's a special reward that everyone at Riot Hospitality and Riot Gives Back feels when they witness the difference their work is having on those who are often overlooked.
“The ability to support babies fighting for their fragile young lives in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Honor Health, first responders who selflessly put their lives on the line to help strangers at their most vulnerable and perilous, and the brave men and women of the military who have fought and continue to fight for our freedoms brings a special reward to all of us at Riot Hospitality Group,” Druss says. “Those are three strong areas that we are grateful for and who deserve help and recognition. This is how we give, why we give and what we believe in giving to.”
Riothg.com/riot-gives-back-charity-foundation