Taste of the NFL offers a Party with a Purpose

Taste of the NFL, a 501c3 organization, recently announced the launch the national Kick Hunger Challenge®, an annual fundraising campaign that pits fans from all 32 NFL markets against each other for a friendly competition to raise money for food banks nationwide.This fundraiser will be active all throughout the football season and was kicked off this month as a part of September’s Hunger Action Month. The fundraiser will end with the 24th Annual Taste of the NFL’s Party With a Purpose held on the eve of Super Bowl XLIX, January 31st at WestWorld in Scottsdale.

Taste of the NFL Founder Wayne Kostroski names Chef Beau MacMillan the Arizona Cardinals Celebrity Chef at St. Mary’s Food Bank in Phoenix. (photo credit: Artigue Agency)

You can support the Taste of the NFL’s mission to end hunger simply by donating to your favorite NFL team’s fundraising page. For example, you can go to the Arizona Cardinal’s Fundraising Page and you’ll see that A) we have the second to the highest donation total, only being beat out by the Hall of Fame and only by $47 and B) you’ll see that 100% of the donations received will be distributed to St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance. Each team has their own charitable organization that the donated funds will be distributed and is specific to their part of the country.

Travel Channel’s Andrew Zimmern has been named this years national culinary host for it’s Party With a Purpose. Andrew Zimmern is the creator, host and co-executive producer of the wildly popular series, Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern. He will be joined by national celebrity spokesperson Alyssa Milano to rally awareness and donations for the Taste of the NFL.

“With millions of people in America struggling with hunger, the need to do more is greater than ever,” said Zimmern. “I am honored to support Taste of the NFL’s efforts as culinary host and one of many of this country’s top chefs and NFL players that are raising money and awareness in support of food banks throughout the United States.”

This year’s star-studded Party with a Purpose® fundraising event brings together exceptional cuisine, prominent chefs from around the country, including Arizona Cardinals Celebrity Chef Beau MacMillan of Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain along with NFL players, coaches, legends and more, all to support the fight against hunger.

Tickets for Party with a Purpose® are on sale now and can be purchased at Taste of the NFL. Prices are $700 each for guest tickets and $9,000 for VIP tables of 10. An exclusive Diamond Package Experience is also available.

Arizona fundraising efforts include a Valley-wide restaurant fundraising promotion that supports Taste of the NFL’s Kick Hunger Challenge to promote awareness and action to end hunger in America – with local funds raised staying in Arizona.

In the spirit of Super Bowl XLIX, Taste of the NFL is enlisting 49 local restaurants to participate in the challenge from October – December to raise funds and compete for a chance to be part of the Taste of the NFL action. All proceeds raised in the “Flavors of the Valley” competition will support two local food banks – St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance in Phoenix and Vista del Camino Food Bank in Scottsdale.

The 5 restaurants that raise the most money during promotion will be invited to participate in the “Flavors of the Valley” area at the Taste of the NFL’s Party with a Purpose®.