David Chang Wins $1 Million for the Southern Smoke Foundation on 'Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?'

It's a good week for the Southern Smoke Foundation.

Yesterday evening, ABC aired the latest episode of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, in a special season featuring frontline heroes along with celebrities playing for charities. Vying for the prize last night? Celebrity chef David Chang, founder of Momofuku and host of Netflix's Ugly Delicious, aiming to win big for the Houston-based nonprofit. “I’m so honored that Dave chose Southern Smoke as his charity,” said the organization's co-founder and Houston chef, Chris Shepherd, in a press release prior to the episode's airing. “He’s been so supportive of this organization for so long, and the visibility from the show will do so much to shine a light on the needs of our industry.”

And support the organization Chang did, becoming the first celebrity to attempt to win and subsequently nab $1 million on the popular game show that first debuted in 1999 with Regis Philbin as the original host. With the funds going to Chang's charity of choice, Southern Smoke Foundation, he was clearly thrilled by the outcome of the tension-filled competition, expressing his joy via Twitter last night. Chang was also sure to show his love for friends Alan Yang, a screenwriter, and Mina Kimes, an NFL analyst at ESPN, for helping him get the answers right on the show.

Like Chang, clearly Southern Smoke Foundation was thrilled by the game's outcome, too, taking to social media to express their excitement and gratitude.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Southern Smoke Foundation has been a lifeline to the restaurant industry, distributing more than $3,361,762 to restaurant and bar workers in need right now. In 2017, Chang, first teamed up with the charity, participating in their annual fundraising festival, which helped to raise more than $500,000 for Houstonians in the restaurant industry in need in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. Little did Chang know that just a few short years later, he'd be making such a big difference in their ability to help them out on an even bigger scale. Watch the clip of Chang answering the million dollar question below.

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If you'd like to help boost Chang's incredible $1 million donation from the show, you can make your own tax deductible donation to the Southern Smoke Foundation here.

We're grateful Chang pulled off such a feat for this worthy cause. And we're looking forward to the day when we can get back to handshaking and hugging at our favorite restaurants safely in person.