GENYOUth’s Taste of the NFL Raises $2.2 Million to Combat Student Hunger

NEW YORK, March 18, 2025 – GENYOUth, a national nonprofit founded by America’s dairy farmers and the NFL, has announced the success of its 2025 Taste of the NFL event, which along with related initiatives, generated a remarkable $2.2 million. The funds will provide vital support for approximately 1,000 schools and 540,000 students, enabling access to 146 million school meals across the 32 NFL club markets. This initiative is a significant stride toward fostering nutrition security for students nationwide.

The highly anticipated Taste of the NFL was held at The National WWII Museum in New Orleans on February 8, 2025. Supported by presenting sponsors Frito-Lay, Quaker, and the PepsiCo Foundation, the event showcased the culinary talents of marquee chefs Andrew Zimmern, Carla Hall, Tim Love, Lasheeda Perry, and Mark Bucher, along with over 30 additional chefs, including participants from the PepsiCo Foundation’s Restaurant Accelerator program. NFL Legends and sports personalities, including James “JB” Brown, Demario Davis, and Coach Tony Dungy, lent their support to this impactful cause.

“School meals are often a lifeline for millions of students, serving as their only source of daily nutrition. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and partners, this event allows us to make a tangible difference,” said Ann Marie Krautheim, CEO of GENYOUth. “Together, we are addressing food insecurity and ensuring students have the nourishment they need to thrive.”

As part of GENYOUth’s collective initiatives, the Super School Meals program expanded access to school meals, equipping over 59 Louisiana schools with Grab and Go meal equipment in the lead-up to Super Bowl LIX. This program exemplifies GENYOUth’s commitment to tackling food insecurity through innovative and collaborative efforts.

GENYOUth has also announced the launch of Taste of the Draft, a new fundraising event inspired by Taste of the NFL, which will debut on April 23, 2025, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on the eve of the NFL Draft. Plans are already underway for the 2026 Taste of the NFL event in San Francisco.

For more information about GENYOUth and opportunities to support its mission, visit www.GENYOUthNow.org. Nutrition grant applications for school nutrition professionals are open through April 8, 2025, at educator.fuelup.org/opportunities.