Number 12
Photo credit: Tatiana Lubanko/New Orleans Saints
Taste of the NFL: Chefs & Players Stand Against Child Hunger
Featured Focus: Partnerships for Good, Access / Inclusion / Equality, Health & Wellness
Scope of Impact: National
Every year, the Super Bowl draws millions of eyeballs to the most watched sporting event on the planet. Throughout the week before the big game, the NFL also hosts a number of philanthropic events. One of them is called Taste of the NFL. This grand charitable venture works to enhance the health and well-being of schoolchildren across the US. Elite chefs and NFL players come together to raise funds for the national nonprofit organization Gen Youth, highlighting the power of community collaboration.
Founded by the NFL and America's dairy farmers in 1992, Gen Youth ensures kids have access to nutritious food and physical activities. Last year's event raised a whopping $2 million, benefitting over 1,000 schools nationwide. The event's distinctive grab-n-go meals program breaks the stigma around school breakfasts, offering quick, nutritious alternatives. In New Orleans, Gen Youth launched their Super School Meals Initiative, distributing meal equipment to 59 schools. Supported by players like New Orleans Saints' Cam Jordan, Taste of the NFL and Gen Youth are making a real difference in the fight against child hunger.
Is there a better example of the power and impact sports can have on communities across the country than this one? For over 30 years, the NFL has been tackling the issue of student hunger, and while it may not get the publicity it deserves, this work is as crucial as ever. It is a good reminder that these types of opportunities exist around every big sporting event for leagues, teams, brands, and nonprofits to make a difference.
No Kid Hungry
Learn about the prevalence of student hunger in the US from one of the orgs working to stop it.
